Emirates Environment Group celebrates World Environment Day with the UAE's biggest green awards

Over 600 awardees were honoured at the function, hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai.

Speaking on the occasion, HE Mohammed Saqr Al Asam, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Environment and Water, said that the EEG has been doing commendable work in protecting the environment. "A lot more needs to be done to protect and preserve our beautiful country. Our beloved great leader Sheikh Zayed once commented on the importance of the environment, calling it 'a dear part of our heritage, civilizations and future'. Today is the day to reconfirm our commitment to the cause of protecting it," he said.

Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson, EEG said, "The UAE has set out very high standards as a nation. We are considered a progressive nation that is a role model for others. Yet we are also a nation with serious environmental issues surrounding waste, water, energy and overall ecological footprint. It is estimated that the UAE produces 8,000 tons of wastes per day, and each person in the country produces 1250 kg of waste every year. Such rates have to be brought down urgently. It is EEG's mission to step up the urgency of environment protection by involving all sectors of society. Our tools are environmental education, awareness raising and on-the-ground programs and activities. Our recycling programmes offer tremendous scope for addressing the problem of waste in the UAE."

"Statistically speaking, recycling paper yields great results. One tonne of paper recycled succeeds in saving 17 mature virgin trees, 2.5 barrels of oil, 4 cubic meters of landfill area, 4,100 kilo watt hours of electricity, and 31,780 litres of water. Similarly recycling aluminium cans, plastic, glass, toners and collecting used batteries have significant environmental impact and health benefits," she added.

The 2006-2007 cycles of EEG collection campaigns yielded outstanding results. The organisation collected large quantities and its campaigns drew several hundred participants. The Paper Collection Campaign yielded 822,773 Kg, the Can Collection Campaign yielded 8321.5 Kg, the Toner Collection Campaign yielded 2321 pieces, the Plastic Collection Campaign yielded 16,275.5 Kg, the Glass Collection Campaign yielded 37963 Kg, and the Battery Collection Campaign yielded 561 Kg.

This year's awards function, EEG's biggest award function ever, honoured winners (top collectors), participants, sponsors, coordinators, volunteers and collection companies of the Paper, Can, Toner, Plastic, Glass and Battery Collection Campaigns. The event was supported by the patronage of HE Dr. Saeed Mohammed Al Kindi, the UAE's Minister of Environment and Water.

Prizes were given away to top three collectors in three categories; Schools (education institutions in general including schools and colleges), Companies (both public and private sector organisations) and Individuals (and families). Winners walked away with high-end laptops, IT accessories, cameras, air tickets to tourist destinations, hotel vouchers and similar lucrative rewards.

In the Glass Collection Campaign, the overall winner in the Schools category was Dubai English Speaking School. In the Company category, the winner was JW Marriott Hotel and 1st Runner Up was Oasis Beach Hotel, followed by 2nd Runner Up Nordic House and 3rd Runner Up Jebel Ali Hotel. In the Individual category, the winner was Mrs. Hilda Ball, followed by 1st Runner Up Shaima Al Marashi.

In the Plastic Collection Campaign, the overall winner in the Schools category was Dubai Gem Private School. The 1st Runner Up was Dubai English Speaking School, followed by 2nd Runner Up, Latifa School for Girls. In the Company category, the winner was Margham Dubai Establishment and 1st Runner Up was ABB Industries LLC - Dubai. In the Individual category, the winner was Sara Baker, followed by 1st Runner Up Shaima Al Marashi and 2nd Runner Up Fatma Jassim Al Marie.

In the Paper Collection Campaign, the overall winner in the Schools category was Dubai Gem Private School. The 1st Runner Up was Rashid School for Boys, followed by 2nd Runner Up, Abu Dhabi Indian School and 3rd Runner Up, Dubai Women's College. In the Company category, the winner was Sofitel City Center Hotel and Residence, 1st Runner Up was Department of Economic Development and 2nd Runner Up was ABB Industries LLC - Dubai. The 3rd Runner Up was Al Futtaim Carillion. In the Individual category, the winner was Sumaya Abdul Aziz, followed by a tie for the 1st Runner Up between Tariq Mutaz Kahal and Fatma Jassim Al Marie. The 3rd Runner Up was Sara Kamal.

In the Can Collection Campaign, Fatima Jassim Al Marri was the overall winner and Jesvin Jeyapaulraj was the 1st Runner up. In the Battery Collection Campaign, the Winner was Westminster School, followed by 1st Runner Up Dubai Gem Private School and 2nd Runner Up, Latifa School for Girls.

In the Toner Collection Campaign, the overall winner was Dutco Balfour Beatty LLC, while Gulf Agency Company was the 1st Runner up and Dolphin Energy - Abu Dhabi was 2nd Runner Up.

An exhibition showcasing art from waste was one of the attractions of the event. It was put up by several schools that play a prominent role in the EEG's recycling campaigns. On display are decorative and utility products handmade by the school's students and teachers. A photography exhibition organized by EEG volunteers documenting last year's campaign is on as well inside the Crowne Plaza hotel's spacious auditorium and adjacent lounge.

EEG, a pioneering local NGO, has been pushing communities, schools and companies to separate common recyclable wastes from general garbage and collect these for purposes of recycling.

Starting in the early 1990s and continuing to the present, EEG has been determinedly running several community waste segregation and collection campaigns including those for paper wastes, aluminium cans, ink and toner cartridges, plastic wastes, glass and single cell batteries. With an extensive network of members, associates and general interested parties, EEG has managed to involve different groups and individuals in environmental programmes and activities.

EEG is accredited to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which leads the worldwide observation of this important day. The theme for the 2007 World Environment Day is "Melting Ice, - A Hot Topic?" and draws attention to the challenges facing Polar ecosystems in the light of Global Warming and Climate Change. The day is celebrated in various ways around the world, recycling being one of them. EEG's Prize Giving Ceremony highlights the importance of taking action on the critical environmental issue of waste.