156 metric tons of CO2 mitigated in Emirates

The Emirates Environmental Group, EEG, within the first month of summer through its recycling initiatives, has mitigated 156 metric tons of carbon di oxide emissions, saved 190 cubic metres of landfill space and saved 389 trees from being felled.

For the summer of 2015, EEG has planned a plethora of recycling projects for the community to participate in. The programmes aim to engage people from all sectors of the community; public and private organisations, academic institutions and families from across the nation.

The month of June 2015, saw the launch of the Neighbourhood Recycling Project 2015 for EEG's Student Members. This project is aimed at engaging the student community during the summer holidays, in small recycling initiatives involving their community. The project runs from the months of June – September. Within the month of June, the project has already seen the participation of over 100 EEG Student Members collecting over 20,000 kg of Paper and over 200 kg of Aluminium Cans for recycling.

June also saw the end of EEG's "Your Can for a Tree" Initiative, which ran throughout the months of April – June, where organisations, schools and families collected Aluminium Cans to qualify to plant a tree under their names. The initiative saw the participation of 58 entities collecting 4,966 kg of Aluminium Cans qualifying to plant 26 trees during the "For Our Emirates – We Plant" Initiative.

During the month of July 2015, EEG rolled out the "One Root One Communi-Tree" Project which is aimed at organisations, academic institutions and families collecting Papers, Aluminium Cans, Plastics, Toners and Mobile Phones to qualify to plant a tree under the community's name. The project runs throughout the months of July – November.

EEG's summer projects have seen an overwhelming response from the community engaging people in a Green Initiative. For the last two weeks of Ramadan, EEG, has launched special campaign called the "Ramadan Initiative" with the aim to make this Ramadan a sustainable one. The aim of this initiative is for the Hotels in the UAE to collect and recycle with EEG Aluminium Cans and Paper in order to qualify for the Tree planting event.

These programmes give the opportunity to qualifying entities to plant an indigenous tree under their names during EEG's "For Our Emirates – We Plant" initiative to be held during the month of December. Such programmes form EEG's one of a kind initiatives, where recycling forms the core objective and its participants are able to leave a green mark upon the UAE.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group explained how the efforts of each individual, regardless of culture, background or age, plays an important role towards a sustainable future, and through such initiatives people are involved in hands on activities. She encourages people to join the green movement and work hand in hand to help 'preserve our environment.'
Source: WAM