In celebration of Global Recycling Day, PepsiCo and its local bottling partner Dubai Refreshment Company, have committed to collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of Aquafina plastic packaging produced in the UAE in 2021, supporting the country’s goal to divert 75% of total waste from the landfill. Through a mass collection project in collaboration with UAE-based waste management specialist Dulsco, PepsiCo is committing to increasing local recycling rates, with the aim to double plastic collections by the end of 2022. The pledge is part of PepsiCo’s ongoing commitment to reduce, recycle and reinvent towards a more sustainable food system.

Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy to minimise natural resources consumption, reduce waste, and ensure the quality of life for current and future generations. PepsiCo’s vision is to recycle and reuse packaging material rather than treating it as waste. Improving regional collection rates helps to increase the supply of recycled plastic and will further drive the demand for recycling facilities which are still limited. As part of the partnership, Dulsco’s recycling trucks will collect waste from schools, residential communities, and commercial entities and transport them to a Materials Recovery Facility for waste segregation and recovery. Plastic will be upcycled into yarn to be reused as fabric or plastic strapping bands, commonly used as packing material.

The collection project will be complemented by targeted pilot projects to install Reverse Vending Machines and recycling bins in strategic locations.To ensure traceability, Dulsco will use digital data capturing, weighing systems and GPS monitoring to track the recyclables. This will be coupled with a complete report of waste diversion from landfill backed up by green certificates from recyclers to ensure material is kept in the supply chain and out of the environment.