Saving the UAE, one can at a time

Over 210 UAE entities participated, including government entities, private corporations, hotels and academic institutions, as well as families and individuals.

Thursday's nation-wide Emirates Environmental Group Can Collection Day successfully collected over 4,500kg of aluminum cans as part of its efforts to collect over 27,000kg of cans by the end of the year.
Over 210 UAE entities participated, including government entities, private corporations, hotels and academic institutions, as well as families and individuals.
EEG Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi noted that Emirates Flight Catering was a particularly big contributor to the collection drive.
"They did a really wonderful job, and brought in more than 1,000kg of cans," she told Khaleej Times.
According to the EEG, the day managed to mitigate 82 MTCO2 emissions and saved 132 cubic metres of landfill space.
EEG has already collected 5,543kg of aluminum cans this year, representing about one-fifth of the target.
"When you look at the total consumption in the UAE, 27,000 kg is still just a drop in the ocean," she said. "I believe that there is still a lot that can be done."
Since the programme began 19 years ago, the campaign has collected a total of 256,753kg of cans and prevented their unnecessary disposal, saving 6,233 cubic metres of landfill space.
Al Marashi noted that aluminum cans can be recycled infinitely, which releases a minute amount of greenhouse gases when compared to the process of producing new cans from raw material.
"Protecting and preserving natural resources in the UAE is vital and can be done through such community based action programmes and campaigns. Aluminum recycling provides many environmental, economic and community benefits; it saves energy, time, money and precious natural resources; and it generates jobs and helps to pay for community services that make life better for millions of people," she said.
(KT photos by Leslie Pableo)
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

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