Almost 1,800 tonnes of recyclable waste was collected last year by the Emirates Environment Group.
The vast majority of the more than 1.6 million kilograms of material it collected was paper.
EEG conducted eight collection campaigns last year, each focusing on a different material to be recycled.
About 450 people took part in its aluminium-can collection campaign, together picking up 25,000kg of cans.
According to EGG’s website, the UAE sells 500 million cans every year and only 5 per cent are recycled, compared with 63 per cent recycled internationally.
According to the group, the can-collection campaign managed to save 1,695 MWh of energy and 617 cubic metres of landfill space.
The group has marked February 28 as its annual can-collection day, to support its year-round campaign.
EEG said there are 12 million plastic containers sold every day in the UAE, which means there’s a huge scope for further recycling efforts.
Last year 80,000kg of plastic, the equivalent of 3,476 cubic metres of landfill space, was collected.
In addition, EEG collected 328,000kg of glass, saving 836 cubic metres of landfill, and preserving 226MWh of energy. The glass campaign has run since 2005.
The group also recycles batteries, with 73 people helping to collect 2,773kg last year. In addition, 91 participants collected 5,507kg of juice cartons.
EEG conducted awareness campaigns in conjunction with mobile-phone companies in schools on the proper disposal of e-waste. Last year, volunteers collected 1,984 old mobile phones for recycling.