DEWA recycling: Employees recycle 412,041 plastic and aluminium containers in 2025
DEWA recycling: Employees recycled 412,041 plastic and aluminium containers in 2025 using smart kiosks, diverting 19 tonnes and backing Dubai’s waste strategy.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) reported that its staff recycled 412,041 plastic and aluminium containers during 2025 through on-site smart recycling machines, a development the utility says strengthens its workplace sustainability efforts. The DEWA recycling initiative links the machines to the authority’s smart office mobile app, making participation straightforward for employees across several buildings. Officials say the programme contributes directly to reducing landfill disposal and supports wider municipal waste objectives in Dubai.
Annual recycling figures for 2025
DEWA recorded the collection of 412,041 items of plastic and aluminium in 2025 from its smart kiosks, the authority confirmed. The figure reflects containers deposited by employees via machines installed inside DEWA facilities and logged through the employee smart office application. DEWA presented the totals as part of its ongoing workplace sustainability reporting, noting steady participation throughout the year.
How the smart kiosks work with the staff app
The recycling machines operate within DEWA premises and are integrated with the authority’s employee smart office application, allowing staff to register and track their contributions in real time. The system rewards convenience and transparency by recording deposits and aggregating data for internal reporting. DEWA said the digital link encourages repeat engagement by offering staff an easy, traceable way to recycle without leaving their workplace.
Cumulative impact since October 2022
Since the first machines were installed in October 2022 through the end of the first quarter of 2026, DEWA employees have recycled more than 1.3 million plastic and aluminium containers. That cumulative effort, the authority reported, has diverted in excess of 19 tonnes of waste from landfill and disposal sites. DEWA framed these results as evidence that targeted workplace interventions can yield measurable reductions in municipal waste streams when combined with digital tracking.
Alignment with Dubai’s waste management strategy
DEWA said the recycling drive is consistent with the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021–2041, which prioritises innovation, diversion and circular economy approaches. The authority positioned the programme as a practical example of how public entities can support municipal targets by embedding recycling infrastructure in daily operations. Officials emphasized that workplace recycling complements broader citywide initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on landfills and increasing resource recovery.
Operational reach and employee participation
The smart recycling machines are placed across a number of DEWA buildings to maximise employee access and participation, the utility confirmed. DEWA did not publish an exhaustive list of locations but indicated that placement targets high-traffic office areas to capture routine waste materials such as beverage bottles and cans. The authority also noted that the smart app integration allows management to monitor usage patterns and adjust machine deployment based on employee behaviour and building occupancy.
Next steps and potential expansion
DEWA indicated plans to maintain the current network of machines and to use usage data to inform possible expansions or operational tweaks that improve collection rates. The authority also signalled interest in exploring further partnerships, internal campaigns and educational efforts to sustain momentum among staff. Any decisions on scaling the programme or introducing additional incentives will be framed around measurable diversion targets and alignment with Dubai’s long-term waste strategy.
The DEWA recycling initiative demonstrates how a government utility can leverage technology and employee engagement to achieve tangible environmental outcomes, with more than 1.3 million containers recycled since 2022 and 412,041 recorded in 2025 alone. Continued monitoring, strategic placement of machines and integration with digital tools will determine whether the programme can be scaled to deliver larger contributions to Dubai’s waste reduction goals.
