New recycling bins are being introduced in Adnoc petrol stations in Abu Dhabi to encourage recycling.
The reverse vending machines (RVMs) get their name because customers can insert items – in this case used plastic bottles and aluminium cans – instead of withdrawing them.
The machines, operated by Veolia's Recapp initiative, offer an incentive-based scheme that allows people to collect points that can be redeemed at selected outlets.
Each kilo of recycling earns points, with 10kg giving users 1,200 points, which can be redeemed at places such as Carrefour, The Giving Movement and Noon.
The installation of RVMs across Adnoc’s network is expected to be completed by the end of next month.
Unlike normal recycling bins, the RVMs send automatic updates on the number of deposits they make.
“The RVMs will have an attractive incentive for consumers,” said Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, secretary general of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
“When individuals are rewarded for sustainable daily habits, they are motivated to do more, which is what we essentially need to make a recognisable difference in protecting our environment.
“We conducted a study to assess the best way to engage the community to foster a culture of recycling and discovered an incentive-based scheme would lead to the best results.”
Reducing single-use
The scheme has a target to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s Single Use Plastic Policy, which aims to cut 50 per cent of single-use plastic water bottles consumed in the emirate.
“This bottle recovery initiative aims to dramatically recover single-use plastic bottles that harm our environment,” said Dr Al Dhaheri.
“This is because it takes 450 years for a single-use plastic bottle to degrade, which means our terrestrial and marine environments will be filled with microplastic, affecting biodiversity, our ecosystems and, most importantly, human health.”
The overall target, she said, was the daily recycling of more than one million single-use plastic bottles.
The new scheme comes slightly more than a year after Abu Dhabi introduced a ban on single-use plastic bags.
“Recently, we announced the remarkable success of the first year of our single-use plastic bag ban,” said Dr Dhaheri.
“To complement this success, we are always introducing similar initiatives for the reduction of single-use plastic in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
The RVM project was also praised by a senior figure from Adnoc.
“By offering recycling opportunities at our service stations, we are capturing a unique opportunity to involve our customers in our sustainability journey,” said chief executive Bader Al Lamki.
“In addition to minimising waste and recycling plastic and aluminium, the presence of RVMs will also raise awareness of important environmental issues with our customers.”
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Sector: PropTech
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
