'Recycling is not a rubbish myth, we're here to help'

In response to the letter ‘So is there really any recycling here in Dubai’ (June 24)...

People using our recycling centres are expected to do some sort of basic pre-sorting of their waste i.e. place recyclables in plastic bags then place the plastic bags in the compartments (and not just use them as bins to hold loose unsorted waste); so each plastic bag should contain only one category of recyclable waste. This of course does not apply to oversized waste such as old corrugated cardboard (OCC) boxes; which can merely be flattened and placed.

Recyclables are collected by us as and when required. Yes, one truck holds all types of recyclables, but it does not matter as long as the plastic bags (that are themselves recycled) contain only one category of recyclables. Paper and OCC is taken to our mill for direct use as raw materials. Other recyclables (plastics, cans, glass) are taken to our sorting facility in Al Quoz where they are again separated by type and given to the appropriate recycler. Nothing recyclable is wasted; unless contaminated by food waste/oils/other hazardous waste. We even sometimes find that we have received food waste mixed with other recyclables; which we are forced to dispose at our cost.

We welcome planned visits by representatives of owners’ associations/bulk waste generators to see our sorting facility for themselves (seeing is believing…).

Huzaifa F Rangwala, Union Paper Mills