DUBAI // A door-to-door recycling service due to be introduced to a dozen communities on Tuesday has been delayed for a month.
My City, My Environment was set to launch its second phase in Jumeirah 1, 2 and 3, Al Safa 1 and 2, Umm Suqeim 1, 2 and 3, Umm Al Sheif, Al Manara and Al Barsha 2 and 3.
Residents will now have to wait until May 15 for the service to start. Dubai Municipality said some companies contracted to collect the waste had not been able to obtain the equipment needed in time, including the green and black bins to be distributed to each household.
“We want the whole thing to start smoothly at the same time, we didn’t want one company starting now in the neighbourhoods while others had to wait,” said Adbulmajeed Saifaie, the municipality’s director of waste management.
Phase one of the programme was launched in Nad Al Hamar and Al Mizhar 1 and 2 in March 2012. Instead of throwing rubbish into a central skip, residents were asked to separate it into two wheelie bins – a green bin for recyclables and a black bin for all other waste.
The programme was originally scheduled to expand to six new communities in the Jumeirah area in March last year, but was further expanded.
“We combined phases two and three and are expanding into 12 communities instead of six,” Mr Saifaie said last month.
“We have also expanded the responsibilities of the companies contracted to collect the waste to include all waste management activities in their designated areas, such as street sweeping.”
Mr Saifaie said Dubai recycled 20 to 25 per cent of its waste.
“According to the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, we have to reach 75 per cent by 2021. This programme is essential in getting us to that goal.”
“As part of our strategic plan, we must utilise and repurpose 98 per cent of our waste by 2030,” he added.
The next phase of the programme will look at adding communities in Deira.
By 2020 all the emirate should be included, Mr Saifaie said.
malkhan@thenational.ae
