Emirates Environmental Group collects used aluminium cans

The final numbers are in from a can collection drive held last week across the UAE.

And a slew of recyclable aluminium cans have been diverted from landfills thanks to efforts by the Emirates Environmental Group.

As part of its 16th annual Can Collection Campaign, the group collected 6,533 kilograms from multiple locations where participants who care about the environment dropped off their used cans for recycling.

UAE’s parks, schools and municipalities took part in the collection last Thursday.

Residents, students and employees from around 252 companies, schools and families pitched in to help with the effort.

Roland Ebelt, CEO of Rani Refreshments, said he was pleased with the outcome of the collection day.

“As one of the GCC’s largest beverage companies, Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company (ACCBC) and Rani Refreshments places great importance on the environmental sustainability of the business. It is, therefore, important for us that the packaging is recovered and reclaimed. Educating consumers about recycling is critical. Working with groups such as the Emirates Environmental Group, Rani Refreshments and ACCBC hope to play a meaningful role in creating a greener environment and sustainable future here in the UAE,” he said in a statement.

The work is far from over with a second collection day planned for November 9 later in the year.

EEG hopes to reach 25 tonnes of cans collected before the end of 2013, breaking the record since the campaign’s inception in 1997 that till today totals 174,067kg.

The group said in a statement that the “UAE is working on a proper waste management strategy including waste reduction and recycling as it scores very high in worldwide waste production. Emirates Environmental Group has developed ongoing waste management programmes including also the collection of paper, glass, toners, plastic, mobile phones, tetra pak and batteries to provide a boost to the local recycling industry.”

The Can Collection Campaign is an ongoing one as environment friendly individuals can bring their cans to EEG’s office in Jumeirah and be proud that they’re doing what they can to protect the environment. Can Collection Day and Can Collection Drive, set for November 9, are too yearly events under the Can Collection Campaign that aim to boost the quantity of cans being gathered throughout the year.

Habiba Al Marashi, EEG chairwoman, said more support is welcomed from the community to attain sustainable living for non ecological attitudes have both short-term and long-term effects.

Habiba said that the key is in creating a will that is stronger than habit, thus EEG’s educational and environmental awareness programmes and projects. EEG conducts workshops, competitions and lectures to spread environmental culture amongst youngsters and encourage volunteerism. Membership is open to all and the group receives encouragement and support from a number of local and federal governmental bodies concerned with the environment.

Mahmoud Khalil Hashemi, managing director of Ajman Free Zone Authority, said that the can collection campaign has a significant impact in preserving and protecting the environment of the UAE, and Ajman Free Zone Authority supports this effort strongly.

Ahmad Mohammad Al Hammadi, director general of the Department of Public Works and Services in Ras Al Khaimah, has pointed out that this participation comes in the context of their strategic partnership with Emirates Environmental Group, the leading Group in the field of environmental protection in the UAE. He stressed the fact that the department puts priority on environmental issues such as the collection of aluminium cans and waste treatment and other campaigns that target environmental sanitation.