UAE Recycling Guide

Many people still don’t know that if they don’t recycle, the recyclable waste items end up in landfills or even worst in oceans putting a heavy burden on the Natural ecosystem of which we humans are also a part. They don’t realize how many resources are wasted just by a small decision of every individual if he or she decides to just dump the unwanted item in the waste bin instead of recycling it. The waste from our waste bins is in general taken to landfills around UAE and the waste sits there for years which ultimately harms the environment, creates pollution, adds to global warming and impure air around the landfill affects our health adversely. Read here more about UAE’s Waste facts.

STEPS FOR WASTE DISPOSAL IN UAE

If you want to reduce your negative impact on our ecosystem, it is very important to learn sustainable waste management practices and follow the right steps for waste disposal.

1. Reduce Waste

Think before you use any single-use, disposable item. Replace those items with reusable items so that you can reduce the waste. Read here how to reduce single-use plastic waste with some simple lifestyle changes.

Also when shopping, shop as much package-free as possible, here is a zero-waste shopping kit you can create for yourself.

2. Reuse waste

Instead of throwing away your unwanted or waste item, you can repurpose, upcycle your waste. Here is a great resource for reusing your household items. Now if you are interested in trying a Zero-waste lifestyle like our family, read here quick know-how about what is reusing, re-purposing, and up-cycling.

Also remember to reuse your own containers, bags while shopping. I have been practicing that since 2016, and after a short talk with store staff/supervisor or even manager in some cases, I could avoid taking most of the packaging material home. This habit reduces the need for frequent recycling.

3. Donate unwanted items

Now most of the time, people throw away items that are still functioning well or in good condition just because they want to buy new ones or they no longer need them. So remember one man’s junk is another man’s treasure and donate those items in good condition to charities around the UAE, which help the unprivileged people around the world. Click here for the list of 20 such charities and organizations, where you can donate your unwanted items.

4. Compost

This one of the very important steps. Compost all your organic waste instead of throwing it. Watch here, video tutorial about ‘How to set up a composting and recycling station at home’.

5. Recycling

Now when we are talking about recycling, it’s very important to segregate waste and follow the right procedures while recycling. Otherwise, most of your recyclables don’t get recycled. So when you are recycling, do it correctly. Read here a quick guide to the correct ways of recycling. Now once you know what you can recycle and what you can’t; you need to know where to recycle in UAE.

Watch how I involve my son in regular recycling activity so that he learns to recycle from early on. This video was taken at the Dubai Municipality Recycling Center at Al Barsha Pond Park.