Follow 3 Rs this Ramadan, public urged

An awareness-raising campaign to educate the Sharjah community on the three Rs: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle was launched on Monday by environmental and waste management firm, Bee’ah.The campaign will run throughout the holy month of Ramadan, encouraging the public to adopt environmentally sustainable lifestyles.Bee’ah said in a statement that the campaign’s purpose is to encourage residents to reduce the amount of waste and recycle items which otherwise end up in landfills across the UAE. The project has been launched in three of Sharjah’s prominent and highest footfall locations, namely: Al Qasba, Sahara Centre and Mega Mall.Informational kiosks featuring special Ramadan calendars highlight useful facts and tips on how people can reduce their consumption of food, water and energy, as well as the importance of recycling. The aim is to promote environmental advocacy and urge the public to share this message with their family, friends and neighbours.The uniquely created Ramadan calendar contains simple guidelines on how individuals can reduce their waste by choosing items with less packaging and turning off the TV when not in use; re-use paper bags or give an item to someone who needs it instead of throwing them away; as well as easy ways to bring in recyclables such as cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and aluminium cans to the Bee’ah Recycling Depot at Al Qasba.According to a waste audit conducted by Bee’ah, the amounts of waste generated in residential areas of Sharjah constitute a higher content of consumed plastics and organic waste than the month after Ramadan.  In fact, during Ramadan many Muslims consume an excess amount of food and drink to compensate for their daytime fast.Families race out to co-ops and supermarkets to fill their trolleys with all kinds of items, buying and stocking up with as much food as they can, spending more money in grocery shopping during the month of Ramadan than any other month. Unfortunately, much of that food ends up in the garbage.  Bags and bags of leftovers fill the trash bins to the brim adding to overflowing landfills, the statement pointed out.“I think Ramadan is a very important time for everyone to help out in saving the environment of Sharjah. These tips are very interesting and I will definitely be using them and share them with my family and friends also.” said Ali, a Sharjah resident and mall visitor.Another resident, Aisha said: “I have been a big supporter of recycling. I take my paper and plastics to one of the recycling bins in Sharjah, and I think the information which Bee’ah has prepared is very useful.”By promoting the three Rs, myBee’ah - a community engagement initiative by Bee’ah, aims to unite its voice with the residents in Sharjah to educate the public and create awareness on how to live sustainably, making people aware of the conservation issues that affect them and helping individuals develop the lifelong habits and commitments that will protect the Emirate’s environment and ultimately the planet.According to Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO, Bee’ah: “Ramadan is a month of pure dedication, self-discipline, self-control and sacrifice; it is also a time when the most waste is generated within our Emirate. At Bee’ah, our environmental philosophy is simple: Live better... Use less.” From / Gulf today