'Bizarre practice’ is holding back UAE recycling

Readers discuss how recycling can become viable in the UAE. Other topics: teenager's death, exercise rules and saving money.

Readers discuss the changes required to make recycling more viable in the UAE. Jeff Topping / The National

I read with interest – mixed with amusement and despair – your article noting that "ordinary rubbish contaminates recyclables" (UAE recycling: Residents and government must share responsibility, July 8).

The hard-working men on the Lavajet lorry that collects trash in our Al Nahyan neighbourhood make no attempt to separate the contents of the green and black containers. They simply empty them together into its hold.

I called Lavajet when I first noticed this bizarre practice and was told "we separate it once it comes here". Your article confirms that such a policy makes no sense at all.

Furthermore, in the three years since these containers appeared in front of villas here, I have not seen any effort to educate people about what is supposed to go into each of those containers. How can there be "stringent resident participation" without better efforts at educating people?

And what's the point of having residents learn to separate their rubbish carefully when the collectors simply mix it together indiscriminately?

Peter Scarlet, Abu Dhabi

A few month ago, I had a pile of batteries that I wanted to recycle and I spent a weekend going around all the electronics shops and supermarkets to ask for a recycling station for batteries. None of them had any idea what I was talking about.

Now that I live in the US, I find that there are recycling stations for batteries at the entrance to every electronic shop.

Many people in the UAE are well intentioned when it comes to recycling but they don’t know enough. Schools should, with the help of rubbish collection companies and the government, teach children the basics of recycling. The children will then teach their parents – it's easier than to try to educate adults.

Claudia Curici, US

I take the time to separate out our rubbish so it drives me insane to see that whichever bin is nearest the gate is filled first, regardless of whether it is for recyclables or rubbish.

Unfortunately, I think recycling in the UAE will take a very long time to be successful because of the challenges involved in educating children, adults and domestic staff.

Jayne Gilmour, Abu Dhabi

Mother pays the ultimate price

With regard to your story, Mother of Dubai death-fall teenager fears she will never discover the truth (July 9), I hope people don't judge her. She has already paid the ultimate price by losing her beloved son.

Many of us have gone through a stage of being rebellious teenagers who tried it on with smoking and drinking.

Belinda Wallington, Muscat

Nobody knows the full story about this incident but the reality is that peer pressure is pushing children into attempting things they can't handle.

Parents are not immune to peer pressure either but they should try to make wise decisions.

Marien Oommen, Abu Dhabi

We should not judge in this case but we should instead learn from it ourselves.

Perhaps her son had shown responsibility and acted older than his age? Maybe she thought he was a good boy who could be careful?

She obviously gave him too much credit but this could have happened to an adult as well.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. She will pay the price for this forever.

May Stevenson-Wilkes, Al Ain

Exercise caution in summer

Your article about exercising in summer (UAE residents beat the summer heat by exercising early, July 9) says the heat and humidity burn more calories.

While exercising in hot weather can burn more calories, with higher humidity your body will have a harder time staying cool because the humidity inhibits the natural cooling that comes about when sweat evaporates.

The ideal option is to cool your body while exercising. This actually activates brown adipose tissue, which burns more calories than heating your body.

Marwan Salem, Abu Dhabi

It’s a common misconception to associate more sweat with burning calories. Sweat is actually composed mainly of water. Exercising when the heat has nowhere to go is not recommended at all.

Irene Cita, Dubai

Make retirement savings essential

Your editorial (End of service gratuity could do far more, July 8) makes a strong case for compulsory superannuation contributions for every expatriate, especially since they cannot stay in the UAE when they retire.

It is so easy to spend money when you live in the UAE, with so many beautiful things to buy.

Angela Pop, Australia