Recycling bins closed down due to misuse

Dubai: Residents dumping waste and debris in front of recycling bins in a posh gated community will be fined, XPRESS has learnt.

Four recycling bins — for paper, plastic, glass and clothes — are located next to The Lakes Clubhouse.

But developer Emaar has now stopped people from using them.

A notice board put in front of the tubs reads: “Misuse of recycling bins. Kindly note that due to the misuse of this area the collection of waste has been stopped. We request residents not to dump any waste or debris in this area. Those failing to comply with the above may attract heavy financial penalties.”

Chairman of the Lakes Owners Association Interim Board, Roberto Kauffmann said in an email: “People started leaving rubbish in front of the bins, thereby creating an untidy environment. Emaar, therefore, closed the community recycling tubs in The Lakes. The Interim Board is now working with Emaar to re-open the tubs while educating users to keep the area tidy.”

But the move has not gone down well with some residents.

Malin Steen-Hansen, a 32-year-old Norwegian and resident of Zulal, said: “I don’t like throwing away paper and plastics along with regular garbage. I have always recycled them. Now I collect all my waste and give it to my child’s nursery where there are large bins for waste collection. It is quite inconvenient and I would really like it if Emaar re-started its collection in the development soon.”

Hope to see it restart

While a number of environmentally conscious residents in The Lakes have been actively re-cycling their waste for years, they are looking forward to having the facility reopened.

Jenny Joe, a Chinese resident and owner of a villa at Zulal said she has to go all the way to The Greens to dump her recyclable waste. “We are waiting for Emaar to start this in The Lakes soon.”

An Emaar spokesperson said: “The tender process for recycling is ongoing and is undertaken in line with industry best practices and as per the guidelines of the authorities. We had observed some instances where the recycled bins were misused and we will address them on a case-by-case basis. As per community rules, a financial penalty will apply only if the violators do not comply with the regulation regarding the upkeep of community property even after receiving the first notice of violation.”

Residents of other communities such as the Meadows said there is no such move in their area.