Dubai Municipality has introduced a new social initiative that seeks to boost recycling and reduce the impact of waste materials on the environment.
The initiative aims to encourage both government and private sectors to promote waste management and increase the ratio and quality of recycled materials.
It also fosters concepts of sustainability, circular economy, and waste recycling, as per a press release published via Zawya.
Under the new initiative, Dubai Municipality has distributed 100 smart plastic packaging containers to various government, non-governmental and private educational institutions and agencies.
The scheme will see the collection and recycling of three million plastic packaging units in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city.
The units are equivalent to around 60t of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic that is commonly used for packaging soft drinks, juices, water and other food products.
This PET plastic is known for its durability, high recycling productivity, transparency, lightweight and non-toxicity properties.
As many as 17 public collection centres have been established in populated areas to obtain recyclable materials.
Besides, four smart plastic packaging recovery devices have been installed at different public facilities, such as Dubai Municipal Building, Al Manara-based Municipal Dealers Center, Dubai Frame and Safari Park.
The municipal body has also established ten specialised plastic packaging containers for beachgoers.
Dubai Municipality director general Dawoud Al Hajri said: “The initiative reflects Dubai Municipality's commitment to promote individual social responsibility levels and actively engage both public and private entities in a focused effort to mitigate plastic harm.
“Additionally, it seeks to bolster sustainability by diminishing the carbon footprint through offsetting the release of 102t of carbon dioxide gas, aligning with its strategic emphasis on comprehensive sanitation and waste management.
“The initiative aims to boost recycling, treatment, and electricity provision, ultimately enhancing attractiveness and sustainability of Dubai.”
Al Hajri further noted that the initiative aligns with the UAE Net Zero 2050 commitment, national targets, and the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021-2041’s goals.
It is further in line Dubai Municipality’s commitment to environmental sustainability, also marking the UAE's ‘Year of Sustainability’.
This initiative also involves using the recycled plastic bottles for manufacturing uniforms for municipal sanitation workers. It is being sponsored by DGRADE.
