Tall skyscrapers, overfishing and other environmental issues tarnish Dubai’s green image, but projects such as the new Reyoutilizer app at least makes recycling a bit easier.

 

Developed by two twenty-year-olds for Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, Reyoutilizer simplifies the recycling collection process. Instead of having users call in their preferences for a collection time, they now use the app on their Androids or iPhones.

 

Each household is permitted to make an appointment once a month to have Union Paper Mills – the nation’s first recycling initiative of its kind – collect their recyclable paper, plastic and aluminum cans. If the customer is not satisfied with the time slot the company chooses for them, they have the option of changing their appointment time.

 

The app allows the company to reduce their costs since they can streamline the collection process. They also stipulate that it is necessary to make the fuel and labor expenditures worthwhile by mandating that customers have a sizable bounty for them to pick up.

 

What paper pulp Union Paper Mills isn’t able to process themselves they sell to similar facilities, along with the aluminum and plastic cans.

 

A series of recent initiatives demonstrates that Dubai is concerned to reduce its overall environmental impact – if not for the planet’s sake, certainly to reduce costs. And making recycling easy by offering a convenient pick up service is a great way to compel citizens to recycle.