Since initiating their partnership last year, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and RECAPP, Veolia's digital recycling solution, have completed over 14,000 collections from schools and homes.
About the collaboration
The collaboration, aimed at fostering aluminium recycling among UAE youth, began with 12 schools near EGA's Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah operations. It has since expanded to encompass 20 educational institutions and includes home collections as well.
UAE citizens and residents consume approximately 660 million aluminium beverage cans each year. Shockingly, only a third of these cans are currently recycled, starkly contrasting the over 95 per cent recycling rates in leading recycling nations.
Shockingly, more than 440 million aluminium cans find their way into UAE landfills annually. In efforts to combat this, EGA and RECAPP have successfully collected 145,000 used drink cans over the past year.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, commented, "Aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminium is already one of the world's most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away in our country. I thank RECAPP by Veolia and our EGA teams for educating young people about the importance of recycling aluminium drink cans and inspiring a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship."
Aim of the initiative
RECAPP, developed by Veolia, is an integral member of the Aluminium Recycling Coalition, established by EGA in 2023, to unite can-makers, beverage producers, and waste management firms in advancing recycling efforts across the UAE. This initiative highlights Veolia's commitment to supporting customers in decarbonizing, depolluting, and regenerating resources. RECAPP's digital platform is crucial in facilitating these sustainable practices, marking a significant stride towards environmental stewardship and resource efficiency.
The partnership will further Veolia's commitment in the UAE to foster recycling and sustainable development, aligning with the nation's ambitious goals for achieving a Net Zero future and promoting its Circular Economy Policy. This commitment ensures that we are on the right path to a sustainable future.
“Aluminium is infinitely-recyclable, and recycling aluminium takes 95 per cent less energy than making new metal. I am confident that by diverting aluminium waste from the UAE’s landfills and guiding students and residents to the right approach in recycling aluminium, this partnership will further bolster national efforts towards sustainability and strengthen the recycling reflex across the country. This project underscores Veolia’s dedication to ecological transformation, and closely aligns with our ambitious new GreenUp plan that focuses on high-impact solutions while strengthening our decarbonisation commitments,” said Jerome Viricel, General Manager of RECAPP by Veolia.
