Dubai: Dubai Municipality has launched a new awareness initiative which will see 6,000 eco-friendly bags distributed at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Barsha.
The awareness initiative called, “shop smartly and reduce your waste” is being implemented by the Waste Management Department of the municipality and will include prizes for shoppers.
In collaboration with the LuLu Hypermarket, Al Barsha, the municipality is carrying out the “green cashier” programme, through which two cashiers will promote use of sustainable bags and shoppers who use these bags will be awarded prizes at the end of Ramadan.
Abdul Majeed Sifaie, director of Waste Management Department and head of the Sustainable Waste Management Awareness Team at Dubai Municipality said that through this initiative, the community will be made aware of the importance of smart shopping, which produces less waste by following a number of sustainable ideas and practices.
“In addition, there will be field awareness events in the commercial centres in cooperation with our strategic partners to educate shoppers about the harmful effects of plastic bags and encourage them to use reusable bags,” Sifaie said.
The initiative aims to educate shoppers about the importance of reducing the waste by following a number of sustainable environmental means and ideas which include the use of paper bags and multi-use cloth bags instead of plastic bags, reuse of household items, purchase of basic materials and not luxuries, and contribute to the separation of household waste.
“We continue to endeavour to educate a wide range of the society about the importance of being partners in reducing waste by following a number of green practices and ideas, which will lead to a positive environmental impact that will contribute to the achievement of the National Index for the transfer of 75 per cent of the waste produced in the Emirate of Dubai from the landfill by 2021,” said Sifaie.
Sifaie said social media platforms will also be used to promote the culture of waste reduction by following sustainable environmental practices while shopping.
“We seek to ensure that everyone is committed to the society to take responsibility for waste minimisation in order to achieve sustainable development goals,” he said.
