iPad awarded to household recyclers of Dubai

DUBAI (Scrap Monster): Households who most enthusiastically embraced Dubai municipality's My City, My Environment recycling programme have been rewarded with Apple's latest iPad tablet computer.

The housemaids who put the plan into action have been given cash prizes. The programme began in Nad Al Hammar and Al Mizhar 1 and 2 in March.

Residents of three neighbourhoods in the emirate have saved 500 tonnes of waste in four months by using new recycling bins supplied by the municipality.

Of the 3,725 homes who participated, 15 were chosen as the best recyclers and won the prizes.

Residents were asked to separate their waste into two wheelie bins provided to each home instead of throwing their rubbish into a central skip.

This was a way to encourage the public to adopt the habit of recycling. A tender will be opened for private companies in September and hope to begin the collection in January. The project has been a success and the communities embraced recycling in less than six months.

Recycling bins will be received soon by the residents of Al Warqa and Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3. The 'My City, My Environment' initiative was launched four months ago to raise enthusiasm for a door-to-door recycling programme.