Page 142 - Sparklo PR Report - April 2025

Mira Magazine
Abu Dhabi’s Bottle Return Scheme

Has Recovered Over 130 Million

Bottles

Abu Dhabi’s push to reduce plastic waste is showing major results. Since the launch of the Bottle Return
Scheme, the emirate has collected more than 2,000 tonnes of bottles – equivalent to over 130 million units –
through reverse vending machines, smart bins, and door-to-door collections.

The initiative is part of the wider Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy, which first rolled out in 2022.
Spearheaded by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and cleantech company Sparklo, the programme
has introduced 150 collection points across the city. Some machines have processed as many as 8,500 items
in a single day.
The results are tangible. In 2024 alone, more than 544,000kg of plastic and 18,000kg of aluminium were
collected, helping to prevent over 3.5 million kg of CO₂ emissions. The programme also supports Abu Dhabi’s
goal of reducing carbon emissions by 22% by 2027, while driving behavioural change among residents and
businesses.
The policy’s impact extends beyond bottles. Since banning plastic bags in 2022, Abu Dhabi has seen a 95%
drop in distribution – from three bags per shopper to just 0.4. Use of reusable bags has surged, with over
26,000 sold in 2023 compared to just 600 the year before. A ban on certain styrofoam products has also
achieved 97% compliance.

To encourage participation, the system rewards users via the Tadweer Rewards app. Bottles deposited in
vending machines earn points that can be redeemed with retail and travel partners including Amazon,
Lufthansa, and Noon. The EAD says this growing network of initiatives is part of a long-term strategy to
protect the environment, support recycling businesses, and promote a circular economy in the UAE capital.

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