Latest news with #ReverseVendingMachines
Filipino Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Over 23 million recyclables collected in 2024 through Abu Dhabi's ‘bottle return scheme'
Abu Dhabi's efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability are paying off. Through its Bottle Return Scheme, the city collected more than 23 million recyclable items in 2024, including over 544,000 kilograms of plastic and 18,000 kilograms of aluminum, helping to reduce the environmental impact of waste. Since its launch in 2023, the program has recorded over 2,000 tonnes of plastic bottles returned. Thanks to this effort, the emirate has prevented over 3.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, supporting Abu Dhabi's goal of cutting carbon emissions by 22% by 2027. This program encourages residents to return used plastic bottles and aluminium cans by dropping it on 'Sparklomats,' also known as Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs). Led by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in collaboration with cleantech company Sparklo, more than 100 RVMs have been installed across the city's popular retail outlets, making recycling more accessible and engaging for the public. One machine even set a record by processing over 8,500 items in a single day, showing how convenient recycling can boost participation. Officials say the success of the program proves how easy access and strong partnerships between government and private companies can drive real change. 'We seek to integrate sustainability practices into daily life in the emirate,' Sheikha Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Integrated Environmental Planning and Policy Sector at EAD, said. 'This initiative, with its objectives represents a strategic investment that consolidates the concept of environmental responsibility. By supporting the principles of the circular economy, we seek to strengthen Abu Dhabi's leading position in the global transformation towards building a sustainable future,' she added.
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CoRe urges govt to prioritise waste management
Listen to article A multi-stakeholder packaging alliance, CoRe (Collect and Recycle), has called on the government to prioritise waste management reforms in the upcoming federal budget. The alliance urged urgent fiscal and policy support for strengthening the country's waste collection, recycling infrastructure, and waste-to-fuel initiatives to build a circular economy and drive sustainable development. CoRe, comprising listed companies, NGOs, packaging manufacturers, recyclers, and multilateral organisations, submitted a comprehensive set of proposals to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. The proposals include financing facilities from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and tax incentives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). CoRe proposed a series of targeted fiscal measures which included the provision of green financing by the SBP to facilitate investment in waste collection and recycling initiatives. A five-year tax holiday has been recommended for both new and existing Packaging Recovery Organisations (PROs) operating across multiple cities, aimed at encouraging nationwide expansion. CoRe also suggests the introduction of tax rebates or financial incentives for companies that meet defined recycling targets or utilise recycled materials in their packaging. To further ease the cost burden on the sector, the alliance has called for the exemption of sales tax and customs duties, and the implementation of a zero-tariff regime for the import of recycling equipment. Additionally, to help formalise the informal sector, CoRe has proposed exempting General Sales Tax (GST) on services related to waste sorting, collection, and recycling. The alliance also advocates for the reduction or elimination of duties on Reverse Vending Machines, which are instrumental in collecting plastic packaging waste. Lastly, incentivising infrastructure for converting plastic waste into fuel is seen as a crucial step toward creating a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy. CoRe's recommendations are aligned with the government's broader sustainability agenda and the reform priorities of the IMF's Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), said Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, CEO and Founding Board Member of CoRe. The 2025-26 budget is a crucial opportunity to introduce transformative fiscal policies that can drive green jobs, sustainable investments, and a waste-free future. The call for reform comes amid growing concern over Pakistan's worsening waste crisis. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the country's solid waste generation is projected to reach 42 million tons annually by 2030, straining existing infrastructure and environmental systems.
