Free Mobile Minutes and Grocery Vouchers for RAK Residents Who Recycle

The planned waste management incentive programme aims to reduce the emirate's carbon footprint

In an effort to help cut down on waste by 75% by 2021, Ras Al Khaimah will soon launch a recycling initiative wherein households will receive free shopping vouchers as well as free local and international calling minutes if they sort their waste at home.

The new plan is expected to encourage parents and children to be more aware of the importance of waste segregation, which in turn will boost recycling rates in the emirate.

RAK authorities hope to see a boost of recycling rates at the local recycling drop-off centres in the area and to see a decrease of non-segregated trash ending up in the landfills.

Parents are advised to responsibly sort their wastes, particularly food waste, which counts for a third of RAK's total rubbish.

Sonia Nasser, the Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Waste Management Agency, told The National that they are "...working on an incentive programme that will offer people free minutes of talk time or mobile data if they segregate their waste sensibly."

“We have three food treatment hubs and two more are expected to be added by the end of the year,” she added.

The team is also working closely with schools to add lessons on recycling in classes, instilling the importance of responsibly sorting rubbish at a young age.

“We have 121 schools under our recycling programme and we recently opened an outreach centre at the material recovery facility where kids can learn more about waste segregation process and why it’s important.”