Al Hamra Group, a leading real estate developer in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, has launched a new household recycling scheme within its integrated community of 4,000 homes that will help the residents reduce over 3,500 tonnes of waste from landfill every year via a new colour-coded recycling scheme.

The new RAK Recycles initiative being implemented across the entire community, helping the emirate reach its target to divert 75 per cent of all waste from landfill by 2021, said the developer in its statement.

The introduction of RAK Recycles across the emirate is managed by the Ras Al Khaimah Waste Management Agency (Rakwma).

As part of the drive, households, schools, and businesses receive bags to separate waste into three main categories; food waste, clean, dry recyclables and general waste.

Emirate-wide distribution of the bags is due for completion by the end of June.

"This is a landmark initiative that will significantly boost sustainability in Ras Al Khaimah and will create a new culture for recycling and waste awareness. On average, the emirate generates 550 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) every day," remarked Benoy Kurien, the general manager at Al Hamra.

"As a responsible developer we are keen to ensure our residents can play their part in helping to reduce reuse and recycle," he stated.

“As a luxury location, providing a tranquil environment to thousands of residents and visitors, we are fully committed to protecting the environment and helping the community to do the same. Recycling is a vital part of the UAE’s future waste management plans and, as such, developers have an important role to play in helping to provide access to recycling facilities,” he stated.

The scheme will see residents and businesses issued with two different coloured bags. The green bags are for items manufactured from plastic, including containers, bottles and sheets, as well as paper, cardboard, steel aluminium and glass. The brown bags are for food waste, including leftover food, out of date produce, eggshells and vegetable peelings.

Kurien said: "As we see an influx of new residents moving to the emirate to enjoy the pace of life, scenery and beautiful homes we have here, so too we see a higher demand on services such as waste management."

"Al Hamra will continue to honour its commitment to the environment, the emirate and the 4,000 households that call Al Hamra Village home, by supporting environmental targets in a practical manner," he noted.

Janet Hartzenberg, the outreach and awareness manger at Rakwma, said: "RAK Recycles as a government of Ras Al Khaimah funded and managed initiative to encourage and support recycling, is based on the principle of source separation, as this has proven to be the most efficient and most cost-effective way to increase community recycling rates."

“The collaboration between groups such as Al Hamra and the Ras Al Khaimah Waste Management Agency, allows for accurate information regarding source separation to be quickly and effectively spread to residents to ensure success,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service