Following 2017’s electronic waste (e-waste) collection drive that saw nearly two tonnes of discarded electronics find new lease of life, Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai Science Park (DSP) have joined forces once again to bring back the successful World Environment Day initiative this year.
Teaming up with global ride-hailing service Uber and waste management company Averda for the second consecutive year to handle the collection and management functions of the drive on 20 and 21 June, the 2018 campaign has been extended to include Dubai Media City (DMC) and its partners.
Under the initiative, members of the business communities can have their e-waste – including items such as monitors, laptops, printers, cameras, keyboards, PC hardware, and mobile phones – collected for recycling and refurbishment. The newly refurbished items will then be donated to charitable causes.
The campaign aligns with the UAE’s ambition to achieve zero landfill waste by 2030. To participate, those within the communities can book an Uber through the mobile app to arrange a pick-up of their unwanted electronic goods. The collected items will be sent to Averda for waste management and recycling.
According to the United Nations Environment Annual Report, 60 to 90 per cent of non-recycled e-waste is illegally dumped in Asian and African countries. The UAE is one of the major electronics consumers in the region, with one UN-sponsored project finding that the average resident generates 17.2 kilograms of e-waste every year, much of which contains harmful toxins, such as arsenic, cadmium and mercury. The campaign aims to address the country’s e-waste management problem through collecting and recycling retired devices in a bid to minimise the impact of high electronics consumption on the environment.
The 2017 campaign garnered the support of His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who stressed that the disposal of e-waste presents a great challenge in today’s rapidly changing world. He welcomed and encouraged private sector initiatives such as this one that support national efforts to achieve sustainability and reduce pollution in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and other government initiatives.
