Make a personal decision to recycle for the environment

This letter is in response to the article Use less, recycle, reuse more for the environment (KT, Nov 12). I doubt many people know that the UAE has among the largest carbon footprints per capita. I read the article just after returning from a supermarket. The amount of avoidable plastic usage in supermarkets is astonishing. I have noticed that residents in Dubai do not care much about single use plastic.
It is easy to blame residents for not sorting trash in different bins before disposal. But perhaps, as the author pointed out, even if the residents segregate the trash, there is no sufficient infrastructure to ensure that the waste gets recycled or dumped properly.
We need large bins for dedicated kind of waste across the city. They should be installed at critical junctures for residents' use. There should be an awareness campaign that educates people about the importance of segregating waste. They should be told and convinced as to why it is important to do so. In a country that consumes rapidly and mindlessly, we need to educate people about mindful consumption. The nearest recycling station to my house is about 1.5kms away. I wouldn't blame people for choosing convenience over environmental activism.
Small changes can make a world of difference. Start carrying your own shopping bags to supermarkets, use your own small vegetables bags, and urge your family and friends to do the same.
- S Ravi, Dubai