As Earth Day approaches, environmentalists in the United Arab Emirates are encouraging recycling through programmes that incentivize the practice as well as increased waste sorting at the source.

 

Under one such programme, introduced by Sharjah environment company Bee'ah in 2012, individuals can deposit used cans and bottles in reverse vending machines and get reward points towards coupons and vouchers to be used at participating stores.

 

Programmes that incentivize recycling are important experiments that can be beneficial if they are expanded to other parts of the UAE.

 

The absence of incentives hindered the success of recycling programmes in the past, but with their recent introduction other obstacles such as waste sorting gain prominence.

 

Several factors complicate the sorting of waste before it is sent to recycling factories, including a lack of commitment at the individual level, and the absence of proper facilities at the source.

 

Provision of bins for different categories of waste is called for near buildings and public areas, as well as increasing awareness campaigns about the importance of sorting, as well as expanding social incentive programmes for recycling and sorting waste at the source.

 

This would help recycling projects in general succeed and help companies reduce costs, as well as reduce the mixing of different recycled materials.

 

Sharjah Municipality environmental services director said Bee'ah operates in partnership with the municipality on waste management in industrial, commercial and residential areas.

 

By 2015, Bee'ah hopes that waste recycling rates will reach 100%, noting that its programmes -- some of the first in the Gulf -- have already helped raise these rates.