Dubai: This Ramadan, Dubai residents can trade in recyclable waste material for food coupons.
Dubai Municipality’s Waste Management Department launched the community initiative called ‘Recover the value of your waste’ to raise awareness about the importance of reducing waste through recycling.
Residents can visit Emirates Cooperative Society in Al Twar 3 to hand over recyclable material at the designated site and receive coupons for food stuff.
Talib Julfar, Assistant Director-General at the municipality’s Environment and Public Health Services Sector launched the initiative at the Emirates Cooperative Society premises in the presence of Abdul Majeed Abdul Aziz Al Saifaie, Director of the Waste Management Department.
Speaking to Gulf News, Saifaie said the campaign lets people who deposit recyclable waste materials like plastic bottles and aluminum cans earn coupons for bags filled with packaged food items and juices.
Julfar stated that a number of private sector companies such as Emirates Cooperative Society, Alpha Emirates and Al Ghurair Foods have volunteered to contribute to the initiative.
“Dubai Municipality strives through all its initiatives to achieve the objectives of Dubai’s environmental culture and enhance its position among the cities of the world as a sustainable city. The initiative of “Recover the Value of Your Waste” confirms Dubai Municipality’s pioneering role as an environmental awareness and social responsibility agency,” he said.
“The aim of this initiative is to establish a culture of sorting the waste from its source and classifying it as per its value and enhancing the level of environmental awareness among the public, especially the visitors to the shopping malls and markets.”
This phase is important because it reduces pollution, conserves resources and diverts the bulk of waste from landfill.
“In addition to that, this culture carries a unique meaning that helps personality development, which enhances social responsibility and thus achieving sustainable development,” he said.
Al Saifaie said that Waste Management Department staff and volunteers from the participating companies will make the public aware of the importance of contributing to the sorting of waste and the commitment to cleanliness and environmental safety.
