The Emirates Environmental Group surpassed its annual targets for the collection of aluminium cans, paper and mobile phones for recycling during 2016.

The ambitious targets were achieved through the efforts of more than 1,500 UAE-wide entities representing all segments of society. The overall target for the year leaped with daily collections as part of EEG’s broader efforts to combat adverse effects on the environment and promote recycling to positively impact climate change and pollution control.

Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, said: “Various campaigns launched by EEG have witnessed a steady rise in the participation not only of community members but volunteers from various industry sectors as well as who share our goal of preserving the environment, resulting in the successful attainment of the target.”

Al Marashi has urged the community to value the benefits of recycling and work towards achieving the overall objective of zero waste to landfills.

EEG vigorously promotes its established waste management and recycling campaigns and programmes, encouraging the collection of paper, plastic, glass, mobile phones, and toner cartridges in order to popularize the recycling industry and underline its importance throughout the UAE.

Since the inception of its waste management and recycling campaigns and programme in 1997, EEG has managed to avert 63,171 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) emissions, save 95,452 m3 of landfill space, and prevent almost 279,170 trees from being cut down.  

EEG continues its dedication and willingness to give back to the environment in line with the designation of 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’ by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. It will conduct year-round events specially designed for waste management that will encourage the active participation, commitment and cooperation of government entities, hotels, private sector organizations, educational institutions, and individual families towards the collection of recyclables.

The Group’s line-up of events will centre around waste management including One Root, One Communi-Tree, Green Call, Your Can For A Tree, Quick Race, Neighbourhood Recycling Project, Recycle, Reforest, Repeat and Can Collection Campaign. Different events will be organized in the first and second half of the year. – TradeArabia News Service