Latest news with #VendingMachines
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
How EAD sparked a society-wide movement to go green and recycle
4 June 2025 23:23 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Single-use plastic is gradually becoming a thing of the past in Abu Dhabi, thanks to a coordinated push across sectors, led by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).This World Environment Day - observed today under the theme "Putting an End to Plastic Pollution" - Aletihad highlights Abu Dhabi's success in igniting a collaborative movement to eliminate single-use battle started in 2020 with the launch of the emirate's Single-Use Plastic Policy that formed the bedrock of a comprehensive, society-wide movement to reduce the beginning, EAD has veered away from conventional top-down policy approaches. Rather than relying solely on regulation, the agency focused on public engagement, industry collaboration, and long-term behavioural change."We didn't wait to enforce and then explain," Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Integrated Environmental Planning and Policy Sector at EAD, told Aletihad in a recent interview. "We listened, engaged, and communicated before implementation. That made all the difference."Before the policy was enacted, the agency launched public surveys, stakeholder workshops, and social media campaigns to gauge community sentiment and gather than 1,600 participants responded to an early-stage survey, overwhelmingly supporting action against single-use collaborative spirit laid the groundwork for a smooth rollout. "We brought retailers, plastic producers, and the public on board early. By the time the policy was launched, there was buy-in," Al Mazrouei numbers point to a decisive shift: Since the ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect, usage plummeted by 95%.According to EAD, retail giants such as Carrefour, Lulu, AD COOP, Spinneys, Choithrams and ADNOC Distribution fully transitioned to reusable alternatives within the timeframe the policy had than 97% of retailers now comply with the regulation of banning targeted single-use Styrofoam products, a success rate achieved through partnerships, not penalties."Our goal was never to punish. We work with the private sector, not against it," Al Mazrouei said. "We see them as strategic partners." Bottle Return Scheme In 2023, EAD launched the Incentive-Based Bottle Return Scheme, aiming to collect 20 million plastic and metal bottles in the first year. However, the results exceeded expectations sevenfold."To date, we've collected over 130 million bottles, equivalent to more than 2,000 tonnes of waste," Al Mazrouei said. "That's material no longer polluting our coasts but re-entering the economy through dynamic recycling."With more than 170 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) now deployed across malls, cinemas, and supermarkets in Abu Dhabi, the programme demonstrates how community-level participation can significantly support sustainability targets."It's really amazing how society is racing with us in implementing and adopting this initiative. You can see queues in some places like shopping malls and cinemas, where people are lining up to put back their used recycled bottles," Al Mazrouei on earlier measures, EAD enacted a ban on single-use Styrofoam items in June with earlier measures, the rollout was preceded by targeted communication, awareness drives, and site now exceeds 97%, but EAD isn't stopping there. The policy aims to eliminate 100% of single-use plastics from government entities in Abu Dhabi. Environmental ImpactEAD's efforts have translated into measurable environmental gains. Between 2020 and the end of 2024, an estimated 360 million single-use bags were avoided, equivalent to keeping around 2,400 tonnes of plastic out of the than 130 million bottles were collected for recycling, diverting over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste from efforts have also contributed to avoiding approximately 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of taking 130,000 cars off Abu Dhabi's roads for a full year."This impact is the result of one initiative," said Al Mazrouei. "Small changes in our daily lives add up to massive environmental gains." Expanding the Movement EAD is now preparing to align with a federal regulation by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment - set to take effect in January 2026 - which will target a wider range of single-use plastic products, such as plastic cups, lids, cutlery, plates, and food agency is also exploring how artificial intelligence and circular economy models can be leveraged to make sustainability part of Abu Dhabi's broader economic approach is rooted in the belief that meaningful environmental change starts at the individual level."I've had the same water bottle for five years," Al Mazrouei shared. "If I didn't use this, I'd easily go through 1,000 plastic bottles a year, just me." Want to support Abu Dhabi's journey to zero single-use plastic? Carry a reusable bag, use a refillable bottle, and return any single-use bottles for recycling at collection points. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Scenic Route to Alaska, Orcas at RAM, Hairspray and more to do this weekend
Scenic Route to Alaska : Hopefully you lassoed tickets to the sold-out Corb Lund mini-fest at Starlite Friday night and on the street Saturday afternoon — but that's the just beginning of a brilliant weekend at the 35-year-old, birthday-celebrating venue. Saturday night, the grunge-country vibe continues with Skinny Dyck and Bobby Tenderloin at 9:30 p.m., so no wardrobe change if you're knee-deep in Lund, y'all. Then, the marvellous and dreamy pop of 'Prairie Beatles' Scenic Route to Alaska has a 3:30 p.m. show Sunday, with the irresistible combo of Lucette and Billie Zizi opening the afternoon up — seriously, what a huge weekend! Details : 9:30 p.m. Sat./3:30 p.m. Sun. at Starlite Room (10030 102 St.), $20.80 Sat./ $31.08 Sun. at Orcas : Our Shared Future : Speaking of big things, Royal Alberta Museum's latest exhibition opening Friday swims through the world of 4000 kg., ocean-apex-predator orcas. Swirling together scientific research, pop-culture riffs and Indigenous art and beliefs, this killer whale of a show dives deep into the animals' complex social behaviour, intelligence and consequences of captivity. Free pins and posters for pass-holders are all yours opening day, with an appropriately free screening of Free Willy 3 p.m. Saturday at Churchill Square's Splash Day, then a lecture by marine mammal researcher Joshua McInnes 6 p.m. May 29. Details : 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. May 16 – Oct. 19 at Royal Alberta Museum (9810 103A Ave.), including museum admission $21 adults, $14 65+, $10 youth 7-17 at Friends and the Love of Art : While legendary sculptor Joe Fafard and meditative suburban landscape painter Wilf Perreault never shared a show together in the former's lifetime, Peter Robertson Gallery brings together the work of these two Saskatchewan abstract-representational artists to celebrate their long friendship. You probably recognize Fafard's work in his various horse, bull and bison sculptures around town, including on jasper Avenue, and Perrault's paintings feel utterly familiar to anyone who's ever walked a winter alley on the Prairies. Both artists capture a strong sense of western identity, nostalgia and home — most fitting as PRG celebrates its new-yet-familiar digs in the former Udell Gallery space. Details : reception 2 p.m. Sat., running through June 7 at Peter Robertson Gallery (10332 124 St.), no charge Vending Machines / Wake Up Sleepy Anna : Jumping back to Edmonton music, two of our city's most notable talents have released new videos. First up, it's sweet-voiced self-harmonizing Mariel Buckley's latest heart-scraper Vending Machines, shot on Super8 by Laura LaFrance. 'Ultimately this song is about choices,' says Buckley, 'accepting the snack that falls when we push the button. I'm partial to Hawkins Cheezies — a fine Canadian product — and exploiting collective/personal pain for sad songs. Enjoy!' Next, Joe Nolan's dreamy Wake Up Sleepy Anna was inspired by a fictional Russian princess, 'who symbolizes hope in a time of darkness and despair,' explains the singer. 'This song serves as a universal cry for the betterment of humankind. 'We all pray for love in the new world.' Details : Now streaming on the YouTube channels of Mariel Buckley and Joe Nolan , free Hairspray (2007) : This now-classic musical about a 1962 Baltimore TV dance show is so star-studded it practically bursts, featuring a heavily made up John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and many more. Based on the Broadway musical, itself based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic, this has almost as many onion layers as Wicked with music as infectious. Part of Rainbow Visions Film festival running through Sunday, full program at . Details : noon Sat. at Metro Cinema (8712 109 St.), $10 fgriwkowsky@ @ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Tasmania's long-awaited container refund scheme has started
Nearly 50 years after South Australia's container deposit scheme became operational, Tasmania is finally on par with the rest of the country when it comes to recycling single-use drink containers. Tasmania's Recycle Rewards scheme, which opened statewide on Thursday, will refund 10 cents per eligible bottle or can dropped off at a recycling collection point; with the refund redeemable in cash, a digital payment, or as a donation to a registered charity, school or community organisation. By midday of the first day an estimated 85,000 containers had been refunded. About 110 donation partners have registered to receive reward donations. ( ABC News: Madeleine Rojahn ) Tasmanians use more than 270 million single-use drink containers every year, according to TasRecycle the company tasked with the running of the container refund scheme. They are also one of the most commonly littered items in the state, a 2018 study found. Ken Roughley, chief executive of TasRecycle says the program is expected to have multiple social and environmental benefits. "We're expecting a massive reduction in litter," Mr Roughley says. "Currently 45 per cent of litter in Tasmania is beverage containers and we expect to reduce that by half. "We expect recycling to increase by 50 per cent, and we expect a massive reduction in landfill as well, so there's a lot more to it than a 10-cent refund." He also says it will create new economic opportunities and generate new jobs. Tasmania is the last of Australia's states and territories to implement a container refund scheme. ( ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke ) What types of containers are refundable? Most drink containers ranging in size from 150ml to 3 litres, including: Aluminium cans Plastic bottles Glass bottles Cartons (less than 1L) Steel bottles and cans Beverage containers made from liquid paperboard, such as milk and juice boxes. What's not: Crushed cans. They need to be whole as the barcode on the container needs to be legible. And, if possible containers should be clean and empty with the lid attached. The Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) will also spit back out: Glass wine or spirit bottles Milk containers — plain or flavoured Juice containers bigger than 1L Cordial bottles Plastic bottles smaller than 150ml Household food containers. The close-loop recycling scheme will be an important component of Hobart City Council's "zero waste to landfill" strategy. ( ABC News ) Where can I drop off my bottles and cans? There is a network of 49 container refund points across the state, including on King Island and Flinders Island. Forty of those refund points will go live from May 1 when the scheme officially begins, with the remaining nine to come online in a staged roll out. Not all refund points will be self-service RVMs; there will also be four or five depots that are staffed centres able to sort and count bulk loads of containers, where you can drive or walk through and receive an immediate refund; and some over-the-counter sites at existing shops in the community where staff will count the containers and provide a refund. Mr Roughley says the Tasmania-specific scheme has been designed to have a very high participation rate, "with 85 per cent or greater availability". The scheme also expects 85 per cent of people will be able to get to a facility within a 10-minute drive. There will be 49 container deposit refund locations operating around the state once the scheme is fully operational. ( Supplied: TomraCleanaway ) How will I get payment? Multiple ways, but unless you drop off your containers at a depot it won't be in cash. If using one of the scheme's many RVMs, you'll have an option to choose your payment type once your approved container is scanned. Options include a digital payment, or an e-voucher that can be cashed or exchanged for instore credit at participating stores. Your voucher will have a list of the closest stores to the RVM. See the For digital payments, you'll need to download the app onto your smartphone and provide your preferred banking details. You can also opt to donate your refund to a registered charity, school, sports club or community group. Those who prefer cash payments should take their containers to one of the 4–5 depots. As well as registering as a donation partner, charities, and community and sports groups can also apply to operate a refund point. ( ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke ) Should I download the app? The Recycle Rewards app is a free download from the Apple app store or Google play and is a great way to access the scheme's benefits. The app will help you find the nearest collection point. It also has an eligibility checker, so you can scan a container's barcode from home before lugging it to an RVM. From the app, you can also link your bank account, Paypal account, or choose a donation partner. Downloading and registering for the Recycle Rewards app is straightforward. ( Supplied ) What about the cans I've been stockpiling? Mr Roughley recommends Tasmanians don't flood the fledgling system by showing up with trailer loads of stockpiled cans and bottles. Photo shows Smiling man in a dark shirt and cap with a 'Return and Earn' logo behind him A NSW man has gone to great lengths to cash in on recycling, returning almost half a million cans over seven years to save for his first home. He says any container bought and stored before May 1 should be put in your usual yellow bin council recycling for collection. The reason, he says, is economic, as the beverage companies funding the refund scheme haven't as yet begun financially contributing. "The scheme hasn't been paid for yet, as such by the beverage companies. There's been no contributions made so any stockpiling wouldn't be to the benefit of the scheme," Mr Roughley says. And while there is no limit to the number of containers you can return, under the Act and Regulations, a statutory declaration may be required if you are returning more than 1,500 eligible drink containers at a single time. Tell me more about the scheme Beverage companies themselves fund the scheme and will be up for an extra 21.43 cents (including GST) for each aluminium can they supply into the state, and a similar rate for other eligible containers. So, will the cost of beer go up to compensate? Mr Roughley says initially, maybe. "Pricing is totally up to the beverage company themselves," he says. " TasRecyclers, a not-for-profit, are not responsible for setting the prices. What I can say is that in other states we haven't seen the prices go up beyond the cost of the scheme in the first year. " Beverage manufacturers needing assistance to update labels or change systems to accommodate the scheme may be able to access grant funding. ( ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke ) But some beverage suppliers have claimed they will have no choice but to pass the cost of operating the scheme onto customers, with supermarket giant Photo shows Woman holding plastic bottle near donation site A long-awaited Tasmanian container deposit scheme which promotes recycling will leave beverage retailers "no choice" but to pass on the cost to consumers, an industry representative says. The hefty increase, which some retailers have said is more than the cost to operate the scheme itself, can be put down to Tasmania's "unique" location, Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said last week. "Namely, a smaller container volume and population size, the transport of containers across Bass Strait and our lack of access to the economies of scale enjoyed by mainland states," she said. On Thursday, Ms Ogilvie praised Tasmanians for embracing the recycling scheme on its first day. "It's a brilliant day for the environment and it's a fantastic day for Tasmania," she said. "People in Tasmania, we care about our environment and we want things to be made better. This recycling program has been a long time in the making and we've got it right. We've seen today, already 85,000 eligible containers returned. It's remarkable." For more details, visit the
