Abu Dhabi: Over 6,009kg of aluminium cans were collected as part of a nation-wide recycling campaign organised by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) on Saturday, bringing their collection to about 20,700kg.
More than 3,000 people participated in the campaign all over the UAE.
The EEG revealed that this initiative brings them a step closer to achieving their goal of 27,000kg of recyclables which would otherwise be disposed of at landfill sites.
Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the EEG, explained that the Can Collection Drive bids to unite people from various sectors of society through their environmental obligations. Therefore, hotels, academic institutions, families and students all came together to volunteer during the successful drive that took place simultaneously in each of the UAE’s seven emirates.
The cans collected through this campaign alone were able to save up 504 cubic metres of landfill space, the EEG revealed, and eliminating 311 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The 16 year-old drive, that was started in 1997, is one of the EEG’s various environmental sustainability initiatives, as it also encourages the recycling of paper, glass, toners, plastic, mobile phones, beverage cartons and batteries.
Earlier, Gulf News reported that the UAE economy loses Dh1.5 billion annually due to the lack of recycling, according to the Centre of Waste Management in the capital.
