DUBAI - Dubai International Airport, the world's third-busiest for passenger traffic, is ready to begin phasing in a ban on single-use plastics on Jan. 1.
The ban will begin with the removal of plastic cutlery, straws, food packaging and bags from cafes, restaurants and shops.
Since operator Dubai Airports first pledged in June to remove plastics at Dubai International and the city's smaller Al Maktoum Airport, it has worked with more than 250 concession and hospitality partners to implement the ban.
The company also said that as 2020 progresses "significantly more single-use plastic products will be replaced”, though it wasn't specific as to which products those will be.
Notably, the project will see McDonald's replace more than 5.6 million items with recyclable materials. And Costa Coffee will replace the more than 2.6 million cups it uses each year at the two Dubai airports with a plant-based cup.
The plastics ban follows a similar measure by Delhi's Indira Gandhi this year.