UAE | Environment

Mobile waste recycling unit finds many takers

Dulsco's recycling service follows a schedule and visits certain areas only on certain days.

  • By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 February 6, 2010
  • Gulf News

Off the beaten path
  • Image Credit: Supplied picture
  • A recycle van serving selected neighbourhoods of Dubai waits for residents to bring their sorted garbage

Dubai Taking the rubbish out can be a tough job for some with several bins for their recyclable trash.

Separating paper, plastic and metals from glass is not an innate gesture for all, but the rewards for the environment are measurable.

To make it a bit easier, Dulsco, a waste management company, launched a recycling truck last year to drive around neighbourhoods of Dubai to collect waste free of charge that can be recycled, rather than ending up in landfills.

Sarah Smart, an Umm Suqueim resident from the UK, has been using the service since she moved the UAE last September. "I wish more people would use the truck in this area. I looked for somewhere to recycle as soon as we moved here. I've always recycled and try to limit our consumption anyway, so it doesn't mount up too much," she said.

"Before I learnt about the truck I took our plastics and papers to the local supermarket where some recycling bins are available, but I am without a car all day so it can get a bit difficult to take it there," said Smart. "I think some people here do get lazy and can't be bothered. The city is growing and that is going to have an effect on the environment."

Dulsco's recycling service follows a schedule and visits certain areas only on certain days. At the moment the company has a few serious clients such as Smart whom they visit every week. At other times the truck parks in a visible location.

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K.R Ajay Kumar, Senior Manager-Operations at Dulsco, said since the truck's debut, Al Qusais has proved to be the most interactive neighbourhood. "By separating at the source the waste does not get contaminated and it is easier to recycle... We also saw that there was not much opportunity for residents to recycle here so the truck is our solution to make people aware while making sure these materials are not going to the landfills," he told Gulf News.

Do you think this is a good idea? Will this truck encourage residents to recycle more often?

Comments (4)

  1. Added 12:24 February 6, 2010

    This is a great move by Dulsco! I wish there is something like it here in Ajman. Even a drop off point will do. I still have to go to Sharjah and dump all the plastic bottles and papers in Beeyah bins. Come on Ajman Municipality, you can do the same!

    Anonymous, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 10:07 February 6, 2010

    great start! how about having radio broadcasts and tv bulletins. since we have brought in popultions, we must make aware in languages other than arabic or english. Agian, i like the idea that there are specific police to ticket garbage offenders. throwing garbage whil driving is a crime. think of the accidents that have killed people of our country in the last fifteen years. peopel must purchase reusable bags from canvas - cotton or plastic material. keep them in there motors one dirum for each plastic bag at large major stores eg. grocery etc. ..thats if they refuse to reuse .. we have to be tough with populations that dont recycle and not in their original countries. how much money is this costing, why spend too much money in educated populations, get the trucks to go more in the densely populated areas.

    Anonymous, $comment.city, Afghanistan

  3. Added 08:28 February 6, 2010

    If i am not wrong ,Gulfnews should have given information to readers beforehand.You know there are many offices and site offices in BurDubai,Jebel Ali area who can use these services because thousands of printed papers go into trash bins from these offices.I tried to find a recycle centre (for office waste)about six months back and i was told that i need to pay for this service which made me to rethink,but now we are using another recycling service.So We save paper,water,forest, i am part of Go Green mania.

    Shibu, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 00:21 February 6, 2010

    Brilliant idea...iam really impressed...this service will definitely help in keep dubai clean n waste free....hope more n more people make use of such services....keep up the good work guys...way to go

    Shabnam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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