EAD’s ’Think Before You Waste’ Campaign Reaches Out To 49,405 People

Following the launch of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi‘s (EAD) ‘Think Before You Waste’ campaign during Ramadan, 49,405 hot meals, 18 tons of rice and 100 cold meal parcels were distributed to needy people across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The meals were donated to poor families, orphans, people with low income, various humanitarian cases and factory workers with the support of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf), the UAE Red Crescent Authority, and Hefth Al Ne’ma (Save the Grace).

The one-month campaign aimed to raise awareness about food waste and its environmental impacts.

According to a report published in 2009 by the Centre for Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, 33% of Abu Dhabi’s waste is food and is disposed of each year, contributing to landfills, carbon emissions and ultimately climate change. Approximately 500 tonnes of food gets thrown away during the month of Ramadan in Abu Dhabi.

Throughout this campaign, Awqaf communicated important tips and information on food waste to all of the Emirate’s imams (leaders of the mosques) for them to disseminate to the praying community during the Friday prayer all through the Holy Month of Ramadan. Islamic preachers called on residents to consider reducing personal food waste as part of their religious responsibility, as outlined in the Holy Qur’an.

The UAE Red Crescent Authority also promoted the campaign message to its main providers such as hotels and prominent family homes who regularly host large gatherings during Ramadan.

Hefth Al Ne’ma worked closely with Abu Dhabi’s major hotels, palaces and organizations who hosted large gatherings. They collected safe and edible leftover food, ensuring it is distributed to those in need. Untouched meals were then packed and immediately delivered to the needy, in vehicles specially equipped to keep meals at optimal temperature.

“For the well-being of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s people to be enhanced - not just in this generation but in coming generations - we have a collective duty to take care of our environment and use our natural resources wisely. This campaign, as do most of our awareness campaigns, involves the community and keeps the environmental impact of their individual actions at the forefront of their minds,” said H.E Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD’s Assistant Secretary General.
 

View News Headlines