Spread awareness
This article about smart garbage bins caught my attention as I am someone who is very particular about segregating garbage before disposing it (‘Smart garbage bins to track errant families in Abu Dhabi,’ Gulf News, January 8). I have three bins in my house, one for plastic, one for paper and one for all other waste. I do this because it makes me feel satisfied, but I always wonder how would this make a difference to the municipality, as they may eventually club it all together. I think if the municipality suggests some ways or launches a campaign to educate the public as to how should they segregate and dispose of their waste, it will be very helpful.
From Ms Rama Malarvannan
UAE
Bad idea
I don’t think that blocking the garbage chutes is a good idea. I live on the seventh floor. Imagine if I had to drag my garbage bag down twice a day in the elevator. The unfortunate leakage from the bag, the smell and the effort required to take the bag down is not worth it. Of course, no one will take the stairs, so the elevators will smell all day and we will see people carrying their garbage down while using the elevator. Encouraging people to dispose of their garbage efficiently is a good thing, but not blocking the garbage chutes.
From Mr Kamran
Dubai
Website comment
Streamline the process
What about families that dispose their waste into the building chutes? Even if they segregate the items properly, it gets mixed in the chute. So, block the waste disposal system inside buildings and encourage people to dispose the waste direct to the bins themselves. Unless this is streamlined, systematic segregation of waste is not possible.
From Ms Sab
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Systematic waste collection
Blocking chutes wouldn’t be practical. In my apartment in Dubai, I keep separate bags for glass, plastic and paper. There is a recycling bin next to my building, so once a week, my children take all the waste that can be recycled to that bin, which again has separate pockets for different types of waste. The chute is basically used for kitchen and other general waste. Cardboard is collected by the building maintenance men. What my family and I do is completely voluntary and my children are in charge of doing it. They are quiet responsible. However, when I was in the UK, this was a standard practice. The municipality distributed boxes for collection of paper, plastic and glass. They also gave a thick paper bag for organic waste, which was later turned into compost by the municipality. Hence, the waste that went to the landfills was hardly anything. I am surprised that the same system isn’t enforced here.
From Mr Simon
Dubai
Website comment
Benches and bins
Recently, I have noticed that all benches and couches placed at regular intervals in shopping malls are being removed. To find a bench to rest on or a dustbin to throw your waste in, one has to walk quiet a distance. The mall management has shown complete insensitivity to the plight of visitors, especially elderly people and people who cannot walk long distances. Some shopping malls are better than others, but still not as convenient. Can the concerned people please look into this issue.
From Mr Subbooh Moid
Dubai
Grateful
The weather is lovely and all people are doing is complaining about Mother Nature. When it rains, they call it “bad weather” or “unstable weather”. Why do they forget how hot it is during the summer? Not to forget that the heat wave continues for months in the UAE. Personally, I feel blessed to experience such pleasant weather in the UAE. I wish every day was like this.
From Mr Hassan
Dubai
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