As part of Dubai Municipality's efforts to implement a sustainable and integrated waste management in the Emirate of Dubai, a mandatory waste segregation scheme for Dubai shopping centres has been initiated. This initiative is part of a series of programs that would be implemented by Municipality to increase waste recycling and reduce waste going to landfills, informed officials with Waste Management Department at the civic body.
Officials said prior to the launching of the scheme meeting for the representatives of shopping malls has been called and a detailed guideline for the scheme has been issued.
'Community is being reminded regularly on how precious our environment is and now people expect opportunities to act in a sustainable and environmental-friendly manner wherever they are' said Eng. Abdul Majeed Saifaie while commenting on the release of guidelines.
'The scheme will create a chance for people to act according to the facts they are aware of and this guideline will practically guide them to live environment-friendly with a 'recycle-reuse-reduce' slogan' he continued.
Saifaie said being part of the scheme will help companies rise high up to community expectations as well as environmental stewardship in Dubai.
He said the scheme will help Minimize the amount of waste being sent to landfills and recover valuable materials that can be processed into new products.
Less reliance on virgin materials in the manufacture of packaging ,financial benefits over time as materials are diverted from landfills into recycling and better image of shopping centres in the eyes of shoppers and business owners are other pros of the scheme, he said further.
The general directions in the guideline include special training for cleaning workers ,actions to Involve all shop owners in the mall, setting up separate bins for different waste streams (garbage and recyclables), providing Colour Codes for the bins for different waste streams with clear labels, making contracts with waste contractors and conducting awareness programs to the shoppers.
The guidelines ask the mall management to form a recycling team headed by a Recycling Coordinator who has a good understanding about the operation of mall inside and out. Apart from from the recycling coordinator, an individual from maintenance or housekeeping department, business owners and waste service provider would be the part of team.
Further, guidelines instruct to conduct a waste audit by which malls can identify the kinds and quantity of waste they generate. This will aid the shopping malls in deciding what materials to be recycled and the possible income that could be earned by the program.
Guidelines say malls generally generate recyclable waste like paper (all kinds), corrugated carton, plastics, PETE bottles, HDPE bottles, aluminium cans, tins cans and glass .
Regarding bins for recycling , the guidelines say it should be strategically located (can easily be seen), in easy-to-use nature and has simple and easily understandable signage. Black for garbage and green for recyclable items are the approved standard colour codes for bins.
Recommended sizes of the bins are 120litres to 240 litres, however the shopping mall management could use any other bin sizes that best cater to their requirements. Legible, clear and colour coded signage is recommended to be placed around the bins. It is also recommended that the signage be written in Arabic, English, Hindi and Urdu languages.
The shopping mall management is required to provide a storage space for safe and sanitary storage of garbage and recyclable materials. The area needs to be kept clean and meet appropriate health& safety standards and regulations.
There should be an official launch for the program with much publicity among the shop owners. A special memo should be sent and at least one responsible person from each establishment should take part in the launch.
Management are asked to provide sales staff stickers that carry 'I recycle' message to be worn on their name badges.
Guidelines has also shown a well planed assessment system to monitor the implementation of the scheme.
Punishments and penalties if the establishments fail in implementing the scheme properly are well described in the guidelines. According to it malls have to pay a fine of AED 1000 per day if not providing the bins for waste collection as stipulated in the guidelines. If fails to comply with the requirements to collect/recycle waste and generate excess amounts of waste the malls will be fined AED 1000 for each day.
The scheme would have completely in force by February 2013.
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For further information:
Bishruddeen K Mohammed Ali
Media Officer
Media Section
Corporate Marketing & Relations Department
Dubai Municipality
+971 206 04 4654
+971 4 2232188
+971552055012
bkmohamed@dm.gov.ae
© Press Release 2012
