WATCH: Giant ‘zero’ bins for single-use plastic bottles to be set up in Abu Dhabi – News

The installations are part of the emirate’s larger mission to eliminate plastic use, reduce waste and reduce carbon emissions

Numerous giant shape-zero bins will be moved around Abu Dhabi as collection points for single-use plastic bottles, which will then be recycled.

The Big Zero installations, placed in malls, parks and event venues, are part of the emirate’s larger Mission Zero campaign. The goal is to achieve zero single-use plastic consumption, carbon emissions, waste and damage to biodiversity in Abu Dhabi.

The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) will bring zero waste bins to various locations in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dafra to ensure the campaign covers the entire emirate.

Residents are encouraged to start collecting their single-use plastic bottles and placing them at the nearest Big Zero facility​​​.

Adnec Group is hosting the first three installations of three large dumpsters at Adnec during the ongoing Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which will run until 2 October.

Here’s a video of attendees throwing plastic bottles into the Big Zero:

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environmental Information, EAD’s Science Outreach Management Department, said: “Mission Zero is a multi-faceted outreach effort and we are working hard to get all residents of Abu Dhabi to join us in our goal of achieving Single Zero. – Use of Plastics Consumption. To support this goal, we have launched Big Zero installations, which the public can find in hotspots around Abu Dhabi, where they can store single-use plastic bottles for recycling. We have partnered with Plastic Collection An agreement has been signed with a recycling service provider who will be responsible for recycling these bottles.”

He added: “At EAD, we like to think big – hence the name for these installations, we are sure we will be able to collect a large number of bottles and prevent the public from disposing of them in a way that harms our environment.”

Challenges facing schools

Another element of Mission to Zero is the ‘Pile it Up’ campaign, a challenge launched in Abu Dhabi schools to encourage them to compete to collect the most single-use plastic bottles for recycling.

The EAD also asks young people to visit small grocery stores (baqalas) with posters; educate them about the dangers of single-use plastics; and encourage them to use greener alternatives.

Mission to Zero is part of EAD’s single-use plastic bag policy launched in 2020, Abu Dhabi’s single-use plastic bag ban officially kicked off on June 1. Major retailers such as Abu Dhabi Cooperative Spar, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Spinneys and Waitrose all now offer multipurpose shopping bags.

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