Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012
Dubai: Municipal officials in Dubai have urged residents to help tackle the significant environmental challenge posed by increasing volumes of waste by changing entrenched habits and taking personal responsibility to ensure clean surroundings. The appeal came as the civic body flagged off its Clean Up the World campaign at Mamzar beach on Tuesday.
“Every year there are more people moving to Dubai, who come from many different cultures. It is important to keep holding such awareness campaigns because each new residents brings in their own habits and there are some people who have no regard for the environment,” said Hussain Ahmad, organiser of the campaign and head of administration at the Waste Management Department, Dubai Municipality.
Civic officials expect to collect about 375 tonnes of waste during the year-long campaign and dispose it at designated areas.
As per Dubai Municipality regulations, residents caught chewing or spitting betel nut — which leaves a deep red stain — will be slapped with a Dh1,000 fine, while littering will attract penalties in the range of Dh100-50,000. “When people go out for picnics, they should remember not to leave their rubbish behind but to use the available rubbish bins that are placed in the area. If they go out to remote areas, they should then remember to take rubbish bags with them and dispose it in designated areas once they get back into the city,” he said.
The Clean Up the World campaign expects to attract over 37,000 people to activities that will be held at three locations in Dubai.
Held under the theme, ‘Our Place...Our Planet...Our Responsibility’, the campaign which is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to focus public attention on global community concerns for the environment and how each individual can make a positive contribution to a cleaner and healthier world.
Ahmad said clean-up activities would be held in the Al Sufouh area on Wednesday, in Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, and in various areas of the emirate including workers accommodations, desert areas and beaches on Friday. Apart from a clean-up drive planned in Nad Al Sheba, a group of Filipinos will converge on Mamzar beach on Friday to clear up rubbish.
“We have four designated areas at Mamzar beach for divers to collect rubbish that has been tossed in the water, such as tyres and metal bars,” Ahmad said.
Municipal officials urged beach goers to dispose of waste properly by using garbage skips and to report any illegal dumping by calling the municipality hotline 800 900.
By Mariam M. Al Serkal Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
