Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and RECAPP by Veolia have announced the completion of over 14,000 collections from schools and homes since the inception of their partnership to promote aluminium recycling among young people in the UAE. This collaboration began last year and initially included 12 schools near EGA’s operations in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, expanding to cover 20 educational institutions and home collections.
The UAE consumes approximately 660 million aluminium beverage cans annually, with only one-third currently recycled. In contrast, leading recycling countries recycle over 95% of their aluminium cans. Consequently, more than 440 million aluminium cans end up in UAE landfills each year. Over the past year, EGA and RECAPP collected 145,000 used drink cans.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, emphasized the importance of recycling aluminium. “Aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminium is already one of the world’s most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away in our country. I thank RECAPP by Veolia and our EGA teams for educating young people about the importance of recycling aluminium drink cans and inspiring a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship.”
Jerome Viricel, General Manager of RECAPP by Veolia, highlighted the energy efficiency of recycling aluminium. “Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and recycling aluminium takes 95% less energy than making new metal. I am confident that by diverting aluminium waste from the UAE’s landfills and guiding students and residents to the right approach in recycling aluminium, this partnership will further bolster national efforts towards sustainability and strengthen the recycling reflex across the country.”
RECAPP by Veolia is a member of the Aluminium Recycling Coalition, founded by EGA in 2023 to bring together can-makers, beverage producers, and waste management companies to promote recycling in the UAE.
For Veolia, the aluminium recycling project is a significant step in helping its customers decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate resources through its digital platform, RECAPP. The collaboration aligns with Veolia’s mission to promote recycling and sustainable development in line with the UAE’s broader vision for a Net Zero future and Circular Economy Policy.
EGA is also constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant in Al Taweelah, which is expected to have a capacity of 170,000 tonnes per year upon completion.