UAE News: In Exchange For Empty Plastic Bottles, Get Free Trips On Public Buses

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport has started a programme to encourage public transportation customers to earn free travel on public buses by collecting points for empty plastic bottles, which are then used to pay for bus fares.

The first phase of the “Points for Plastic: the Bus Tariff” initiative will see the installation of a plastics deposit machine in Abu Dhabi’s main bus station, allowing passengers to exchange empty plastic containers for points, which will be calculated as follows: every single small bottle (600 ml or less) will gain 1 point, while larger containers or bottles exceeding 600 ml will gain 2 points. Each point is worth ten fils, therefore ten points equal AED 1.

The programme was established in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD), the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre “Tadweer,” and “DGrade.” The points balance may be accumulated and transferred to the “Hafilat” Personalised Bus Card, an ITC automated payment system that calculates the fare necessary for the trip and deducts it automatically from the cash value stored on the card using tariff machines located at bus entrances and exits.

The EAD is collaborating closely with public and private sector partners to develop an integrated bottle return network in important locations, as well as supporting efforts to collect bottles from households using incentive prizes.

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