Dubai, UAE – September 13, 2012 – Dubai Airports has stepped up its efforts to limit the environmental impact of solid waste, recycling more than 530 tonnes of paper, carton and plastic collected across Dubai International during the first six months of 2012. 

Between January and June this year Dubai Airports collected 426 tonnes of cardboard, 54 tonnes of plastic, 13 tonnes of plastic bottles and aluminium cans, and 37 tonnes of paper for recycling.

“We are increasingly focusing our efforts on limiting the impact of our operations on the environment and ultimately contributing to the development of a clean, sustainable future for a sector that contributes 28 per cent of Dubai’s GDP,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Dubai Airports’ environment management plan targets six key areas: sustainable design, waste management, energy efficiency, fuel efficiency (air and ground traffic management), air quality (indoor and outdoor emissions and noise) and transportation of dangerous goods/ life animals/perishables.

In its bid to focus public attention on the need for a more sustainable approach to aviation, Dubai Airports will this year again join volunteers, companies and environmental groups around the world in support of Clean up the World Day on September 16.

Now in its 20th year, the Clean Up the World initiative, held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries annually, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world.