Dubai: A major clean-up drive by Dubai Municipality has collected more than 9,500 tonnes of waste, officials said on Monday.
As many as 32,643 volunteers from 488 organisations, which include government and non-government establishments, community groups, schools and private firms, collected more than 9,537 tonnes of waste during this year’s “Clean up the World” campaign organised by Dubai Municipality from 18 to 22 November.
The clean-up drive was held under the theme, “Our Place...Our Planet...Our Responsibility.”
This year’s campaign was a resounding success as there was a significant increase both in the number of participants and the volume of garbage collected, said Taleb Julfar, Assistant Director General for Environment and Public Health Services Sector.
“People from all walks of the society were involved in the cleanup activities that contributed positively in enhancing the general appearance of the city,” he said.
“Dubai Municipality is organising this annual community environmental initiative for the 23rd year in a row in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep). During the last 22 years, Dubai Municipality has been a important member of the Clean up the World in Australia, the main organisation responsible for conducting this event globally,” said Julfar.
“In addition to the clean up, we also organised a range of other activities aimed at promoting positive environmental actions within our community. These include exhibitions, competitions, workshops and awareness programmes,” he said.
Abdul Majeed Saifaie, Director of Waste Management Department and Head of Clean up the World 2016 Team, said the sponsors of the campaign and representatives of voluntary organisations have contributed greatly to the success of the clean up drive this year.
“The number of participants last year was 30,322, whereas this year it reached 32,643,” he said, noting that participation from different organisations and volunteers was overwhelming.
“During this year’s campaign, 21 government departments participated with 1,170 volunteers, who collected 55 tonnes of waste whereas the number of participation from government educational institutions was 83 with 5,054 students, who collected 132 tons and 77 private educational institutions came with 7,219 students, who collected 138 tonnes of waste. The participation of private organisations such as companies and NGOs was also bigger this year, as 307 of them came with a stunning 19,200 volunteers, who collected 512 tonnes of waste,” said Saifaie.
