Sustainability has now its rewards and returns . Abu Dhabi people are encouraged to recycle plastic bottles, as of now they get something in return like slash on tickets, restaurant bills and shopping coupons all this through the Artificial Intelligence (AI) operated reverse vending machines (RVMs).
As part of enhancing the level of sustainable waste practices among the people in UAE, Tadweer Group has placed 25 locally manufactured RVM in public places like parks, ministry buildings, as well as airports, among other places.
Speaking of such actions, a spokesperson remarked that Tadweer aims to reduce the share of waste improperly disposed of in landfills in Abu Dhabi to 20 percent by 2030.
Ollie Lawson, media and communications adviser, said that the community would play an important role in delivering on the objectives and targets the organization has set in Tadweer.
‘For every plastic bottle or aluminum can that is placed in a recycling bin, a credit is earned. And these credits can then be exchanged at partner merchants’, Lawson said to the media.
There are more partners to get rewards namely noon.com, Amazon, Lufthansa, Gourmet Lab, Max, Brands for Less, Filli, Emax, and Dream Works Spa where card members get free airport check-in, Dh100 on airfare, any dessert free, shopping vouchers, etc.
“We want to take that even further now and that’s why within the Tadweer Rewards app we are looking for more partnerships and more reward schemes.”
How it works?
Download Tadweer Rewards app. Afterward, community members have to dispose of items placed in the RVMs. Security cameras will be AI-operated and will scan specific items. Using this Remote, a QR code will appear on the screen if it is a plastic bottle or aluminum can. The credit points will be generated from the code when scanned. People can then exchange these points for vouchers or a reduction of their bills in some cases.
However, advanced machines will only admit products which are plastic bottles and cans, and nothing more. Such items as the shampoo bottles will be rejected and pushed into another box within the machine and which the collection staff will remove.
Community’s influence
For this reason, in order and when each person is re-cycling through the RVMs, he or she is also able to monitor an impact on the community. Data such as the space provided to dumping that has been saved by the deposited recyclables, the diverted wastes, the lesser carbon emissions and conserved energy will be displayed by the application.
Echoing this message of hopefulness in communities, Ali Al Dhaheri, the managing director and the chief executive officer of Tadweer Group stated that people wanted to preserve the cleanliness of their surroundings corresponding to the country’s vision of increasing the non-landfill waste recycling rate to 80 percent by 2030.
Tactical locations
Tadweer group has signed different partners such as the shopping mall, hospitals, ministries as well as the educational institutions to unveil the RVMs. These machines have been installed at Tadweer group offices, Zayed international airport, ministry of finance, ADDNEC, Khalifa square, UAE University Abu Dhabi sports council and in parks such as Umm al Emarat Park, Al Wahah park, Rabdan Park.
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“It’s about seeing what works, seeing what works for this and that and the other more specifically intervention type and looking at the challenges for the people and for us to collect and so on, it’s all about applying that data to better look at the enhance of the recycle infrastructure across Abu Dhabi,” Lawson reiterated.