DUBAI // We all know we ought to recycle our rubbish, but sometimes the incentive just is not there.
Step forward, Dubai Municipality. Households who most enthusiastically embraced its My City, My Environment recycling programme have been rewarded with Apple's latest iPad tablet computer.
Not only that, but the housemaids who put the plan into action have been given cash prizes.
The programme began in Nad Al Hammar and Al Mizhar 1 and 2 in March. Instead of throwing their rubbish into a central skip, residents were asked to separate their waste into two wheelie bins provided to each home.
"This project has been a huge success and it is amazing how these communities embraced recycling in less than six months," said Abdulmajeed Saifaie, director of waste management.
Of the 3,725 homes who participated, 15 were chosen as the best recyclers and won the prizes.
"This is our way of encouraging the public to adopt the habit of recycling," said Mr Saifaie.
Residents of Al Warqa and Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3 will soon receive recycling bins. "We will be opening the tender for private companies in September and hope to begin the collection in January," he said.
