Inspiring Climate Action Since 2009
Tribe, the most questions and queries I receive these days from my readers are regarding recycling and removal of junk! Many people think that it is not possible to recycle in the UAE, however, that’ not true. If you know where to find recycling centers in the UAE, you can recycle most of your waste. I have been recycling in UAE for the past 10 years and things are definitely getting better now infrastructures-wise. From my experience, it is a question of how aware residents are about recycling and the need for recycling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’
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.
Sharjah is the recycling champion emirate in UAE. 84% of Sharjah’s municipal waste is recovered, all thanks to Beeah, read this post about what exactly Beeah is doing in Sharjah to achieve these great waste recycling numbers and even now have announced their target of going Zero Waste!
Beeah Tandeef also has created solar-powered smart recycling bins, which act as wifi hotspots and also linked to Beeah’s control room to facilitate fast and efficient waste collection.
Beeah Tandeef also operates in Dubai, in places like DIFC, marina mall, The Greens, and in Abu Dhabi via a partnership with Tadweer. So it’s easy to find a recycling station near you.
In Abu Dhabi, you can find recycling stations in the city. Contact below organizations for your recycling needs
Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi
Tadweer, the center of waste management in Abu Dhabi has been collecting waste, sorting, and recycling it.
Averda has been collecting municipal waste and recyclables in Abu Dhabi since 2011.
In Dubai, you can find recycling stations installed by the Dubai Municipality. In partnership with Dulsco, Dubai Municipality has started ‘My City My Environment’ initiative for homes or villas, through which the green bins are provided for recyclable collection. Otherwise, you can contact the below organizations for your recycling needs
Emirates Environmental Group has been running yearly campaigns with schools and also with UAE households for recyclable collection for quite a few years.
Homecycle, you can enroll with them for the free pick up of recyclables from your door, read here our experience with them.
Ras al-Khaimah Waste Management Agency launched in 2017 an innovative recycling program, ‘RAK Recycles’ which is quite active and is getting popular among the residents. Recently The department of public works in Ras Al Khaimah started operating six centers for recycling and treating solid and organic wastes. When you visit Jabel Jais, they hand a waste bag to you so that people won’t litter on the mountain.
Union Paper mills provide office bins to collect waste papers for recycling. In one of the organizations I worked in past, I implemented a paper recycling policy with the help of Union Paper mills.
Nespresso offer to take back their aluminum coffee pods for recycling. My husband has implemented this in his office and happy with the results.
Green Truck is a waste collection service that can be used by communities and organizations
Here is a quick guide for you to help you go green at the office or implement a go green policy in your office.
Enviroserve provides specialty recycling services for e-waste, e-scrap, refrigerant gas.
Blue LLC has been collecting used cooking oil for recycling.
UAE still lacks an infrastructure for organic waste recycling for residents. We don’t have a public compost facility, where people can take their organic or wet waste from the kitchen like food scraps. This organic waste is a big contributor to methane emissions from landfills. You can not compost your organic waste if you don’t have your own compost unit. Again you can compost only when you have your own garden to feed your compost to. Very few people in the UAE have their own compost unit which they use for their garden. The farmers here do not accept compost from homes because they are not sure what has been added to the compost, but possibly the municipality landscape department can accept compost from households?
Read here are some tips on how to compost your organic waste at home without investing in a composter and also some tips on how you can convert your organic waste into fertilizer without composting.
Don’t forget to read here our beginner’s guide to go zero waste. Also, find more about our #ZeroWasteUAE initiative and how can you join.
For recycling businesses, please contact us to get listed in this little black book of recycling in UAE and partner with the #zerowaste UAE initiative
Organizations that want to target ‘zero waste’ or reduce waste can avail themselves of our sustainability consulting services. I will be happy to help you to create & implement a zero-waste strategy for you, contact me here . Businesses can also partner with us or become our Corporate Member and can join our local social initiative of #ZerowasteUAE which will help you implementing and fulfilling your corporate sustainability goals Businesses that help reducing waste can get listed in our Zero Waste Directory.
