Ride to Recycle: A Fun Way for Plastic Recycling
Plastic. You can love it or hate it, but it’s difficult to live without it in this day and age.
As we all become more conscious about our lifestyles and how it impacts the environment, it’s natural for us to look for sustainable products and solutions, thinking plastics are a no go. But is plastic really such a big threat? Research tells us that PET bottles- although largely and carelessly discarded around the world- are recyclable. Imagine a perfectly recyclable piece of plastic ending up in landfills or the sea, polluting our surroundings for hundreds of years when we have a very simple and viable solution to dispose it off. This is why we need to take plastic bottle recycling seriously.
If you considered recycling as a chore and never really knew where to start, here is a cool new way to make a contribution to plastic recycling in Dubai-
Ride to recycle
The UAE has always been one step ahead when it comes to sustainability with plastic. For instance, Dubai Recycles is a recycling initiative by the Waste Strategy and Projects Department in Dubai Municipality that aligns with the national agenda of keeping recyclable waste away from landfills. Since its conception, this recycling initiative has been able to reduce the overall waste generation in the city by allowing individuals, enterprises, and government entities to exchange recyclable and reusable material through a dedicated online platform.
Recently, the initiative launched another fun and interesting opportunity for plastic recycling in Dubai, especially for bicycling enthusiasts. Here is what you need to know-
As part of the continuous efforts and initiatives to reduce plastic and other recyclable wastes in the city, Dubai Municipality has recently allocated 70 recycling containers along the bicycle track in the Sih Al Salam area. These containers have an innovative and distinct feature that allows riders to easily dispose of their plastic bottles or other recyclable wastes without needing to stop or walk on the track. The waste collected by the container will be recycled, thereby minimizing the amount of waste in landfills. The authorities plan to study the effectiveness of this recycling initiative and take necessary steps to implement it city-wide in multiple stages if it’s successful.
While it may sound quirky at first, many such simple and fun initiatives from the Dubai government were found to be functional and fruitful in the past. In line with the vision of the country’s great leaders to the theme of sustainability, Dubai’s recycling initiatives such as There’s More To Plastic, have helped keep the city greener, cleaner, and more sustainable, with happy citizens all around.
Through this new initiative, we can hope to see more of our riders being responsible with their recyclable wastes, especially in aiding plastic bottle recycling in Dubai.
Recycle for a better life
When it comes to plastic, reusing, repurposing and recycling should be everyone’s mantra for leading a conscious and sustainable life. Once you decide to use plastic sustainably, you must opt for recyclable plastic products whenever you can. Single-use plastic products (SUPs) that you come across daily such as plastic cutlery, beverage glasses, plastic covers, and wrappers are all easily replaceable with more sustainable materials. Reducing the use of SUPs, reusing or repurposing products that you already possess, and practicing plastic recycling is a great way to keep your home sustainable.
Be part of recycling initiatives to educate yourself about various materials and their uses and reduce your overall carbon footprint through conscious usage of plastic. So the next time you think of throwing away your plastic water bottles with general waste, stop and think. Take steps to divert the waste to a plastic recycling center. You can read through our blog that let’s you understand recycling circular economy. By taking small, yet impactful steps, you are doing your part in keeping our earth a happy and healthy home for all.
