Dubai: More than 6,000 volunteers came together to collect around 20 tonnes of waste during the 15th cycle of the Emirates Enivronmental Group’s (EEG) annual Clean Up UAE campaign.
The 10-day-long campaign began on Saturday at Nad Al Sheba and will move around the UAE, picking up trash from across the country.
Announcing the campaign, Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of EEG, said: “On the occasion of the 45th National Day we the people, both citizens and residents of the UAE, are working hand in hand to show our gratitude to this nation that has given us so much. The response we have got from the community for this year’s campaign has been overwhelming.”
Thanking the volunteers and corporate sponsors for supporting the campaign, Al Marashi said that year after year the Clean-Up UAE Campaign has seen dedicated participation from organisations, governments, students, families and individuals.
She credited the community for the continuity of the Clean Up UAE campaign for the last 14 years.
“This is a community celebration. We are proud to say that we’ve seen how members of the entire family — mothers, fathers, daughters and sons — come together to serve as volunteers. It also gives us great satisfaction that our activity is highly anticipated by residents of various communities every year,” added Al Marashi.
She said that the core message behind the event is essentially to reiterate the necessity of preserving the environment by maintaining cleanliness, recycling and making this an integral part of the daily culture of UAE society.
“The decision makers take the necessary decisions at global and local platforms, but the real change can be brought about by action at the grass roots level. It is through such simple yet effective operations that one can draw raw materials and other such environmentally valuable material away from landfills, in addition to conserving natural resources from the risk of exhaustion in order to create a secure and sustainable future,” she said.
