The Emirates Environmental Group will begin its 13th annual Clean Up UAE campaign on Saturday, with volunteers hoping to collect 114 tonnes of waste.
Looking to beat last year’s record of 112 tonnes of waste, the campaign wants to encourage participants to volunteer on one of the day’s dedicated to helping the environment.
“I think this is one of the best platforms to engage people in positive work, because most of the time environmental preservation includes a lot of theoretical talk,” said Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the EEG, “but here people roll up their sleeves and come to clean up.”
Spanning all seven emirates, Clean Up UAE will start in Dubai on Saturday and end in Ajman on December 12.
Volunteers will be cleaning up in various environments depending on which event they join.
Ms Al Marashi, who is also president of the UN Global Compact Network in the Gulf States, said that the event means more for communities than the actual clean-up.
“Doing the work that needs to be done, deserts, beaches, marine environment, clean air by planting trees, it brings a sense of loyalty and camaraderie and it brings the community together,” said Ms Al Marashi.
Alongside the event itself, EEG will be holding workshops, talks, tree-planting events, competitions and waste education.
This year the organisers are hoping to attract more families to take part.
“In the past, there were companies that joined us and we are seeing a beautiful wave of participating entities,” she said.
“But this year families are taking particular interest as it is an event for them and they are taking advantage of the beautiful weather to join in this event while doing something good for the environment,” Ms Al Marashi said.
The first clean-up event in December 2002 covered only Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, with only a handful of volunteers taking part. Last year more than 45,000 participants took part in the clean-up.
Companies and individuals interested in taking part can register at www.eeg-uae.org
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
