Dulsco collects over 33,800 recyclables at the Emirates Kids Marathon

Dulsco, a regional leader in human resource solutions and waste management services collected a record of 33,800 recyclables thus ensuring their diversion from the landfill. Dulsco teamed up as the Green Partner at the ‘Emirates Kids Marathon’ that was conducted by the UAE Athletic Federation. The fun-filled yet educational event was held at Dubai’s Al Mamzar Park to mark International Children’s Day.

The marathon was held under the auspices of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. Dulsco ensured that the venue was back to being clean and green after the event. The bottles collected were water bottles & juice bottles – PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), apart from 9,400 tetrapack and aluminum cans.

The Emirates Kids Marathon is an innovative initiative for the children to lead a healthy life. It was a fun filled day with many activities and games, for the children between the age of 5 - 13. The Emirates Kids Marathon event encouraged children to be healthy as well to participate in various sporting activities. The main theme of the marathon dealt with fighting obesity.

During the marathon, Dulsco aimed to inculcate a behavioural change in the children, visitors and spectators on reducing and recycling of waste especially - plastic water bottles by putting it inside the green bin. Dulsco had placed more than 125 green bins for collecting recyclables.

The Green Team from Dulsco was present at the event, including staff volunteers and workers to ensure that the recyclables are segregated at source meticulously and later recycled. In a similar initiative during the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in 2015, Dulsco collected 86,450 plastic bottles and 4,300 glass bottles and ensured that the city was clean and green post the event.

“It is important that we tap the potential of the younger generation at an early stage to make an everlasting impact on the planet. These young children are keen and passionate and they serve as the main source of information within families. We firmly believe that the children across the region can make a difference to the society by participating in such sporting activities. The onus lies with corporates like us, parents and schools, who can encourage these young minds to initiate such waste recycling initiatives in the future,” S. Madhumohan, Director Waste Management, Dulsco.

The marathon was aimed to gather interest in the budding minds as the event was targeted to reach out and educate the children and residents on obesity and participation in sports. Children at the marathon were encouraged to actively participate and play an important role in waste reduction and proper recycling of unavoidable waste. Through this event Dulsco aimed to inculcate and sustain a change in the children and accompanying adults in reducing waste and stressing on recycling as both the aspects are of prime importance.

“It was a visual treat for the eyes to see a dynamic group of small kids, and the ever cheering audience who supported all the participants whole-heartedly. It gives me immense pleasure to thank each and every child for participating and fighting it out to the last. We are confident that next year, the marathon will be held on a much grander scale. With the abundance of zeal and zest that was displayed on the marathon track, I would like to convey my wishes to all the kids for making this marathon a memorable one. I would also wish to convey our thanks to Dulsco in becoming the green partner at this event and helping in the efforts to keep the place clean during and post the event,” Amr Al Saleh, Assistant General Manager, Emirates Kids Marathon.

Several workshops, competitions and entertaining activities for the children were scheduled at the venue. Emirates Kids Marathon 2016 is yet another initiative to bring out a healthy workout regime amongst the children in the UAE. The event which culminated at Al Mamzar Park itself saw sheer stamina and passion by all the children of the age groups from 5 - 13. The encouragement of the supporting onlookers, parents, siblings, friends and relatives boosted the children’s morale.

The participation at the marathon is yet another harbinger of Dulsco’s commitment to encourage sports amongst children promulgating teamwork, passion and dedication apart from imparting conservation of the environment through recycling.