Group calls on residents to join Can Collection Drive

Dubai: The Emirates Environment Group (EEG) is calling on UAE residents to join in this month's Can Collection Drive.

The Dubai based non-government organisation (NGO) is struggling to gain support for the initiative because 'people in the community are acting like spoilt children'.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the EEG, told Gulf News yesterday that the recycling and waste management situation in the country had reached a crisis point.

She said: "I believe people in the community should be held accountable for their actions. The authorities should not have to shoulder all the responsibility; everybody has to do their bit in order to add value to the [can collection] campaign.

All seven emirates will participate in the 12th Can Collection Drive on Thursday, May 29. The Dubai event will be held simultaneously in Zabeel Park and at Ibn Battuta Mall.

NGOs in other GCC countries - including Bahrain, Qatar and Oman - are considering introducing similar initiatives.

Several schools, universities, companies and families participate in the UAE drive every year but finding new support is proving to be extremely difficult.

Al Marashi said: "We are living in a literate society but we need more awareness on environmental issues. For example, if hotels took an extra step it would make a huge difference to the overall picture.

"Every day EEG is running some sort of activity and we also place a strong incentive element into our programmes. However, we live in a community that has an indifferent attitude towards the environment and that is a negative feature of life in Dubai."

The EEG runs six separate clean-up campaigns - paper, plastic, cans, toner, glass and batteries - as part of its waste management and recycling programme.