BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 13 Nov 2008
The Gulf Today, 13 Nov 2008
MASSIVE heaps of individual and industrial waste are mounted in Dubai, adversely affecting the efforts to protect local environment, a senior official of the Dubai Municipality (DM) has said.
Director of waste management department at DM Hassan Makki said, “Life and industry in Dubai nearly generate about 9,000 tonnes of waste per day, including debris and abandoned vehicle from various areas in the city. The environment of the emirate is rapidly corrupted by various types of pollutions. A major project to produce energy out of the daily disposed waste is on the anvil, and it will be operational by the next year safeguarding the environment.”
He added: “Active initiatives for safe disposal of waste, gradual reduction in amount, and recycling as well as making usable materials from waste and raising awareness on making re-usable materials are the lasting solutions for the growing waste problem and reducing its impact on environment.”
Makki was speaking at a press conference to announce DM’s “Clean-up the world 2008′ campaign titled “Start Today, Save Tomorrow”, which will be observed from Nov.18 to 21 in Dubai. About 20,000 volunteers from schools, universities, non-governmental orgaisations and community groups will join in hands as part of the 4-day drive to clean-up designated sites across the city.
“Protection of the environment and preservation of the country’s natural beauty for future generations will be highlighted in the campaign as top priority for the UAE residents. A sense of mutual co-operation should be forged among organisations in planning and executing environment action programmes, along with enhancing community awareness on waste reduction and recycling issues,” explained Makki.
“DM aims at improving public cleanliness in the emirate in cooperation with individuals, government establishments, private firms and non-governmental organisations through effective participation. The campaign has been organising by DM for 15 consecutive years” he said.
He noted that country’s largest voluntary clean-up drive will encourage team-work and ensure participation of institutions and individuals in environment programmes such as cleaning up the local environment. Several awareness initiatives on recycling and reducing waste, and environment workshops on making usable materials from waste will be conducted at shopping malls for general public.
“Broadcasting campaigns on school radios, collection of used materials, lectures in schools on the importance of waste reduction, and arranging visits for students to waste recycling factories will also be part of the campaign. The Environment and Health Awareness Office will organise special awareness programmes for DM staff including an email contest,” he said.
An official at DM informed: “The official launch, held on Nov. 18 at the Heritage Village in Shindagha at 9:45am, will include environment-themed stage presentations by school students, air show on Dubai Creek, Dubai Police Band presentation, recreation programmes for students through workshops, Think Tank Magazine Awards for students, marine clean up activities at the creek and awarding and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.” The campaign’s second day activities are planned on Street-9 at Nadd Al Hammer (Time: 9.30am onwards), featuring clean-up by volunteers from government institutions.
Distribution of litter bins to schools, waste paper collection competition for government institutions and awarding of participants and the distribution of certificates and souvenirs also will be there. In addition, abandoned vehicles removal programme will be held in co-ordination with the operations unit.
Volunteers from private schools, colleges, and universities will be featured on Nov.20 starting with can collection competition at Ras Al Khor Bird Sanctuary Area from 9:30am onwards. Pest control companies in Dubai will also participate in the campaign by undertaking pest control activities in various areas.
The final day of the campaign on Nov.21 will have volunteers from the general public including private company staff, non-governmental organisations, community groups and private entities in cleaning up various areas including Nad Al Sheba. A clean-up will be organised by Dubai’s Filipino community at Mamzar Beach area from 9:15 am onwards.
Director of waste management department at DM Hassan Makki said, “Life and industry in Dubai nearly generate about 9,000 tonnes of waste per day, including debris and abandoned vehicle from various areas in the city. The environment of the emirate is rapidly corrupted by various types of pollutions. A major project to produce energy out of the daily disposed waste is on the anvil, and it will be operational by the next year safeguarding the environment.”
He added: “Active initiatives for safe disposal of waste, gradual reduction in amount, and recycling as well as making usable materials from waste and raising awareness on making re-usable materials are the lasting solutions for the growing waste problem and reducing its impact on environment.”
Makki was speaking at a press conference to announce DM’s “Clean-up the world 2008′ campaign titled “Start Today, Save Tomorrow”, which will be observed from Nov.18 to 21 in Dubai. About 20,000 volunteers from schools, universities, non-governmental orgaisations and community groups will join in hands as part of the 4-day drive to clean-up designated sites across the city.
“Protection of the environment and preservation of the country’s natural beauty for future generations will be highlighted in the campaign as top priority for the UAE residents. A sense of mutual co-operation should be forged among organisations in planning and executing environment action programmes, along with enhancing community awareness on waste reduction and recycling issues,” explained Makki.
“DM aims at improving public cleanliness in the emirate in cooperation with individuals, government establishments, private firms and non-governmental organisations through effective participation. The campaign has been organising by DM for 15 consecutive years” he said.
He noted that country’s largest voluntary clean-up drive will encourage team-work and ensure participation of institutions and individuals in environment programmes such as cleaning up the local environment. Several awareness initiatives on recycling and reducing waste, and environment workshops on making usable materials from waste will be conducted at shopping malls for general public.
“Broadcasting campaigns on school radios, collection of used materials, lectures in schools on the importance of waste reduction, and arranging visits for students to waste recycling factories will also be part of the campaign. The Environment and Health Awareness Office will organise special awareness programmes for DM staff including an email contest,” he said.
An official at DM informed: “The official launch, held on Nov. 18 at the Heritage Village in Shindagha at 9:45am, will include environment-themed stage presentations by school students, air show on Dubai Creek, Dubai Police Band presentation, recreation programmes for students through workshops, Think Tank Magazine Awards for students, marine clean up activities at the creek and awarding and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.” The campaign’s second day activities are planned on Street-9 at Nadd Al Hammer (Time: 9.30am onwards), featuring clean-up by volunteers from government institutions.
Distribution of litter bins to schools, waste paper collection competition for government institutions and awarding of participants and the distribution of certificates and souvenirs also will be there. In addition, abandoned vehicles removal programme will be held in co-ordination with the operations unit.
Volunteers from private schools, colleges, and universities will be featured on Nov.20 starting with can collection competition at Ras Al Khor Bird Sanctuary Area from 9:30am onwards. Pest control companies in Dubai will also participate in the campaign by undertaking pest control activities in various areas.
The final day of the campaign on Nov.21 will have volunteers from the general public including private company staff, non-governmental organisations, community groups and private entities in cleaning up various areas including Nad Al Sheba. A clean-up will be organised by Dubai’s Filipino community at Mamzar Beach area from 9:15 am onwards.
No comments:
Post a Comment