Abu Dhabi launches incentive-based plastic bottle return scheme

ABU DHABI: As part of its ongoing efforts to achieve a more sustainable life in the city, Abu Dhabi on Monday, March 28, launched a new initiative titled ‘Points for Plastic: the Bus Tariff’. The initiative was launched by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi. It encourages citizens to obtain free trips on public buses by gaining points each time they hand in empty plastic bottles, which are then used to pay for bus fares. The goal is to increase the uptake of public transport in the city along with ensuring organised collection of plastic bottles.

The city has partnered with Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre ‘Tadweer’, and DGrade. DGrade is a UAE based organisation that specialises in recycling plastics into different industrial materials by using environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies. The empty plastic bottles are to be deposited in DGrade machines and a voucher containing points is obtained for each plastic bottle handed in. The campaign aims to increase recycling rates with the help of cooperation between relevant strategic partners.