INFORMATION SESSIONMBBC Dubai

21ST January 2011

Agenda

• Recyclable or Not: What it is and How it started.

• Lessons Learned:

– The Waste Hierarchy

– 5 Items

• Recycling in Dubai

• What you can do: Taking the First Step

• Questions.

Humble Beginnings:

First AttemptSecond Cup Recycling BinMay 2010

Interesting Results

People felt Recycling was HIGHLY IMPORTANT

Excellent Knowledge

Poor Knowledge

http://www.recyclableornot.org

• A Blog: Easy to read format.

• Aims to answer the question: “Is it recyclable or not?”

• Entries are short and sweet.

– to keep things simple and easy to understand.

• Current number of followers: 1150

• Not bad for a few months!

Paper Cups

• NOT RECYCLABLEBecause of polyethylene plastic layer between the paper.

• Use a reusable coffee mug instead!

• Some coffee shops offer incentives/rewards.

• NOT RECYCLABLE

• Because most of the time it is soaked with grease.

• Homemade Pizza?

Pizza Boxes

Plastic Bags

• Definitely REDUCEABLE• On average, used twice

maximum• Uses petroleum, a

precious commodity –what a waste!

• Already banned in some countries, restricted in others.

• Use a reusable bag instead.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

What is your food eating?

Paper

• RECYCLABLE(?)

• As long as it is clean.

• Can only be recycled a maximum of 6-7 times.

• Which brings us to…

• Things can only be recycled a few times before it can no longer be used.

• Example: Paper is recycled max (6-7) times:

High quality paper –> Flimsy recycled paper –> Construction paper -> Toilet paper -> Unusable.

Ideal: materials can be infinitely used and reused.

Aluminum Cans

• RECYCLABLE

• Success Story of the Recycling world.

• 95% more efficient than mining virgin aluminum.

• A recycled can will be remade into brand new can in as little as a 2 months.

Recycling in Dubai• Bare minimum

• Recycling Stations at Spinneys, ENOC-EPPCO Stations. (Paper, Cans, Plastic)

• Will do further research.

• Dubai is NOT sustainable.

• This needs to change.

“Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children.”

— Kenyan Proverb

Is this the future?

“It’s not too late at all. You just don’t yet know what you are capable of.”

— Mahatma Ghandi

Take the first step!

EDUCATE YOURSELF!

QUESTIONS?