Recycle used aluminium cans and get discounts on brands like Under Armour, says EAD

In an effort to boost the recycling of materials like aluminium and plastic, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) is all set to roll out reverse vending machines around the Emirate. The new devices are installed in ADNOC Distribution retail service stations, malls, the Corniche, and other popular tourist destinations.

The reverse vending machine (RVM) will recycle packaging materials like aluminium cans and plastic, urging the citizens to recycle promoting sustainability. To use the vending machines, one needs to download the Go Recapp app, where they need to scan the aluminium cans or plastic bottles before dropping them to the RVM.

The app will keep track of the deposits automatically, and users will receive points depending on the weight of the products placed. These points may be used for discounts, such as 25 per cent off companies like Under Armour and Sun & Sand Sports or 10 per cent off on The Giving Movement. The programme was started in conjunction with World Environment Day, and the installation of Reverse Vending Machines at ADNOC stations is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Secretary-General of EAD, Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, said, “This bottle recovery initiative aims to dramatically recover single-use plastic bottles that harm our environment. This is because it takes 450 years for a single-use plastic bottle to degrade, which means that our terrestrial and marine environments will be filled with microplastic, affecting biodiversity, our ecosystems, and most importantly, human health.”