As part of its sustained efforts to highlight the importance of waste reduction and segregation at source, Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) has launched an awareness drive targeting students, teachers and faculty members of schools and universities across the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The two-phase campaign seeks to raise awareness about the direct impact of waste management and reduction, recycling, public hygiene, pest control and environmental protection on public health and sustainable development. The ongoing Phase I, run in collaboration with the Department of Education and Knowledge, involves primary schools, while Phase II will focus on public and private universities.
In Phase I, the Tadweer awareness team is visiting 118 public schools and 126 private schools across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra – 30 percent of the total number of schools in the emirate – and inviting students and teachers from neighboring schools to participate in the activities. This phase also covers several government and private-run kindergartens.
The agenda features lectures, video screenings and information leaflet distribution, as well as quizzes, crafts using waste paper, and waste segregation games with prizes for the best students.
Phase II will involve five higher education institutions including the United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi University, Khawarizmi International College, Higher Colleges of Technology, and Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute. Tadweer will set up awareness booths at the participating universities for five days, host video screenings and informative sessions on effective waste management practices, and coordinate with students to produce awareness videos.
As part of this phase, Tadweer will support relevant postgraduate research projects through providing the students with useful information. In collaboration with the faculty, the center will also organize field visits to waste management projects and recycling plants in Abu Dhabi, and to its pest control training centers later.
Khaled Al Baloushi, Head of Public Awareness at Tadweer, said: “At Tadweer, we firmly believe that raising awareness is the best way to achieve sustainability and create a healthy and pollution-free environment. This campaign is part of our comprehensive community outreach and awareness plan that seeks to promote responsible waste management habits.”
He added: “The diversity of our awareness program has allowed us to inspire the widest possible audience to adopt an environmentally responsible lifestyle. Through this drive, we seek to reach out to a large number of students and educate them about the importance of proper waste disposal, waste reduction and segregation, and recycling.”
Al Baloushi thanked the Department of Education and Knowledge as well as the management of the participating schools and universities for their contributions in facilitating the campaign. He noted that the drive aligns with Tadweer’s priority to collaborate with all sectors and segments of society to achieve its objective of making Abu Dhabi the world’s most sustainable city in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.