Dubai residents embracing green bin recycling campaign

DUBAI // Residents are embracing the emirate’s recycling campaign that was expanded to 12 new communities last month.

Phase two of Dubai Municipality’s “My City, My Environment” campaign brought the number of communities taking advantage of the door-to-door recycling service to 15 across the city.

Jumeirah 1, 2 and 3, Al Safa 1 and 2, Umm Suqeim 1, 2, and 3, Umm Al Shief, Al Manara and Al Barsha 2 and 3 have their recycling picked up from new green bins every other day.

“The launch of phase two was very smooth and successful,” said Abdulmajeed Saifaie, director of the municipality’s waste-management department.

“People were expecting to receive the service due to the reports in the media, so they were ready to begin recycling.”

The programme began in Nad Al Hammar and Al Mizhar 1 and 2 in March 2012.

Instead of throwing their rubbish into a central skip, residents were asked to separate their waste into two wheelie bins provided to each home – a green bin for all recycling and a black bin for all other waste.

“We have not received too many complaints about it, and those we have received were just minor misunderstandings between the collection companies and the residents,” Mr Saifaie said.

“However, we have our supervisors there to monitor the service and make sure that it is maintained to high standards.”

It was the first time Khalid Al Ali and his family had tried recycling. “It is excellent and so easy to use,” said the Emirati financial manager who lives in Al Barsha 2.

“I’ve shown the maids how to use the bin and they have been happy to use it – it makes their job easier, too.”

His one complaint was that the bins attracted box collectors. “There are these people who collect boxes to sell to paper-recycling companies and I’ve spotted them rummaging through my bins a few times,” he said. “I hope the municipality can do something about that as it could be a security issue.”

Faiza Khadem, an Emirati grandmother of four who lives in Al Safa 2, said: “We’ve been recycling since we moved here 20 years ago. There are recycling bins at the supermarket near our house and we’ve been taking the trash down the road to the big dumpsters.

“But these bins have made life easier for us and maids. They don’t have to walk all the way to the supermarket any more, especially in the heat of summer. We also keep the bins in the back of the house and make sure they stay clean to avoid attracting any pests.”

Mr Saifaie said Dubai was recycling 20 to 25 per cent of its waste. “According to the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, we have to reach 75 per cent by 2021,” he said. “This programme is essential in getting us to that goal.”

The next phase of the programme will focus on communities in Diera. By 2020, all of the emirate should be included in the programme.

malkhan@thenational.ae