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Colour-coded Waste Bins for Recyclable Materials

DUBAI — Colour-coded waste bins could soon be spotted at shopping complexes, gated communities and public places from where recycling companies will collect the refuse.

The use of such bins for separating rubbish is one of the main features of technical guidelines being prepared by Dubai Municipality to regulate waste management and help recycling.

Dubai generates about 10,000 tonnes of solid waste a day, among the highest rates in the world. However, according to official figures, only one per cent of it gets recycled regularly.

Separation of waste by users helps increase recycling as it prevents recyclable waste getting mixed with wet waste or waste that cannot be recycled.

Hassan Mohammed Makki, director, Waste Management Department, said the section was finalising the guidelines and the combination of colours
 to be used.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a function to honour the participants of ‘Cleanup the World Campaign-2009’ on Tuesday, he said the guidelines would raise and unify the standards of services by companies in the field.

He said some private recycling companies were already using coloured bins and the aim was to have a unified colour coding system for all recycling companies.

Rashed Karkain, head of Technical Support and Studies Section, said the plan was to allocate different colours for separating bins for paper, plastic, glass and cans.

“Any company providing bins for collecting waste will have to use the new colour code by the end of the year,” Karkain said.

While waste management in most public places is carried out by the municipality, privately owned developments, gated communities and many shopping and commercial complexes contract the service to private 
companies.

The guidelines will have new specifications for segregation, collection, transportation, treatment and recycling of waste.

“We will specify the frequency of waste collection by these companies to avoid overflowing of waste containers. We are also formulating specifications for vehicles and waste containers to improve their visual appeal,” 
said Karkain.

He said the guidelines would also 
help the authorities curb the operations of “a number of unauthorised companies and individuals engaged in waste trading in the emirate.”

The municipality, which had banned the export of waste materials from 
the emirate in 2006, had recently 
issued a strict warning against 
companies and individuals digging up reusable or recyclable materials from waste containers, causing damages to the containers and littering 
waste around.

Makki said the warning was issued after it was found that “some individuals from private establishments and wandering workers dig up and scatter the contents of the Municipality waste containers.” The official said that 
tampering with garbage containers and scattering their contents violate a local order of 2003 and a fine of Dh500 would be imposed on the violators. The department also has the right to confiscate the tools used to do so.

Noting that private companies in waste recycling and waste treatment have to bear the responsibility of their employees violating this rule, Makki said the municipality would take action against people without proper 
documents.

He asked companies to discou age their employees from unlawful 
activities and urged the public to 
help catch offenders by reporting them to the area offices of the department or the emergency unit of the 
municipality.

sajila@khaleejtimes.ae