WATCH: Abu Dhabi installs 8 new ‘big zero’ recycling sites for plastic bottles – News

The initiative aims to achieve the goals of zero single-use plastics, zero waste, zero emissions and zero harm to the emirate’s biodiversity

The new ‘Big Zero’ installations will be placed at eight different popular locations in the capital to encourage a culture of recycling single-use plastic bottles.

The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) has teamed up with Aldar Properties (Aldar) on a sustainability initiative to make it easier for community members to dispose of single-use plastic bottles and send them for recycling.

The Big Zero installation was first launched by EAD during last year’s Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX).

The ‘Big Zero’ installations will be placed at eight high-traffic locations across Aldar’s portfolio, including Yas Mall, the capital’s largest shopping destination. Installations will also be present in many Aldar residential communities such as Gate and Arc Towers on Reem Island, Al Muneera, Al Zeina and Yas Acres, and Al Yasmina, Al Bateen and Al Mamoura Academies by Aldar Education.

EAD and Aldar are planning a social media campaign to educate the public about the locations. Property developer and manager Aldar has been a key supporter of EAD’s ‘Mission Zero’ campaign launched last June. It aims to achieve the emirate’s goals of zero single-use plastics, zero waste, zero emissions and zero harm to biodiversity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Ahmed Baharoon, executive director of environmental information at EAD’s science extension management division, emphasized that the agency’s partnerships with the private sector have proven “very fruitful”, with some environmental movements achieving great success.

“Aldar has been very keen to support the EAD’s single-use plastic policy, in particular by choosing to install our Big Zero at the location of their project in support of our Zero Movement mission. Aldar will then collect all single-use plastic bottles and They are sent for recycling, bringing us closer to our larger goal of zero single-use plastic use or zero waste in Abu Dhabi.”

Salwa Al Maflahi, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Aldar, noted: “The partnership with Abu Dhabi Environment Authority reflects our commitment to safeguard the UAE’s rich biodiversity. Rooted in our business philosophy, our presence in residential and commercial properties across Abu Dhabi enables us to play a key role in Big Zero and EAD’s wider Mission Zero movement.

This partnership complements and is critical to the success of our recently announced Net Zero 2050 plan and our relentless efforts to improve the lives of the people and communities we serve. “

EAD’s “Mission Zero” program has involved the “Pile it Up” school challenge, SMS campaigns, outdoor advertising, the government’s Baadr challenge and the Big Zero installation, among many other programs. To date, EAD has been able to collect approximately 1,500 kilograms of single-use plastic bottles through Big Zero facilities scattered across Abu Dhabi.