UAE | Environment
Recycling efforts in Dubai communities 'will not work without incentives'
More than 70 tonnes of paper and cardboard have been collected and recycled since January at The Gardens, Nakheel's gated community in Jebel Ali, the developer's spokesperson said.
- By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:39 May 16, 2008
- I love recycling only if my mother separates the trash, says 11 year-old Azee living in The Gardens where a recycling programme has been initiated.
- Image Credit: Mahmood Saberi/Gulf News
Dubai: More than 70 tonnes of paper and cardboard have been collected and recycled since January at The Gardens, Nakheel's gated community in Jebel Ali, the developer's spokesperson said.
More than 1,000 colour-coded recycling bins had been set up in the community of 14,000 residents for its Recycle it! programme. It has also set up similar bins on Palm Jumeirah and the International City.
In April alone, more than 45 tonnes of paper and cardboard and more than 26 tonnes of recyclable plastics, glass and metal were collected, it claims, noting "otherwise these materials would have been disposed off in a landfill."
According to Lars Radberg, managing director of Nordic House, which set up recycling units at Emarat petrol stations, such a programme will never work without a financial incentive.
He advocates an addition of 25 fils more per can or bottle which can be refunded when returned. "Emarat's recycling effort has so far failed," he said.
The per capita generation of waste in the UAE of 1,400 kg per year is the highest in the world, said Radberg. The recycling bins at bus stations in Jumeirah create more carbon emissions as trucks have to stop and pick up the trash every 100 metres, he said.
Residents at the Lakes and Springs said they have seen people dump cans in the paper bin if the can bin is full.
Share this article
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Rain hits parts of Dubai and Sharjah
- Shaikh Mohammad leaves for UK
- Ex-minister acquitted of defrauding woman
- Student tackles used cooking oil
- Road accidents the leading cause of brain injuries in Dubai
- No one wants to teach
- Notary phone bookings to start next month
- Move abandoned vehicles out of the way
- Fishmongers, consumers trade charges
- DIFF function to raise funds for Aids charity
- Seven held trying to fly from Abu Dhabi illegally
- Haj mission's H1N1 measures lauded
- Employer prosecuted for false accusation
- Number of Saudi students rises
- English to stay as medium of instruction
Community Reports
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
-
Stop disregarding road rules
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to curb reckless driving during rush hours in Mussafah industrial area underpass
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
