Responding to its social duty of care, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.P.S.C.) introduced another nationwide recycling initiative that will see placement of used battery collection, which will in its initial phase be carried out in bins across 10 branches, and then expand to further branches subsequently. The initiative is being launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.

Customers and companies can now scour their homes and offices, especially junk drawers, closets and garages, for used batteries and bring them to Al Meera branches for disposal in designated bins.

While batteries power modern life, responsible disposal is important upon their end-of-life as the material in them could harm the environment. Commenting on their latest environmental initiative, Al Meera stated,

“Batteries play a vital role in how our world functions today, but the freedom to be unplugged also comes with the responsibility to ensure the proper and safe disposal of batteries once they expire. Our latest environmental initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, exemplifies, once again, that we are increasingly utilizing our network for round-the-clock recycling as we stay true to our values as a retail brand and fulfill our corporate responsibility to our consumers.”

Saeed Mohammed Al Nabit (second left), Executive Director for Administrative Affairs and Human Resources at Al Meera, with other employees of Al Meera, during the launch of Battery Recycling Initiative at the Al Qatifiya branch of Al Meera, yesterday. PIC: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula (source: Peninsula Qatar)

The initiative comes on the heels of newly installed recycling machines for plastics and can products at eight Al Meera branches. Other environmental steps taken earlier this year such as the launch of eco-friendly bags, and recycling of paper in collaboration with Elite Paper Recycling Co. In light of this Eng Hamad Al Bahar, Director of Recycling and Waste Treatment Dept at Ministry of Municipality and Environment commented:

“Battery recycling is very important to prevent the potentially hazardous metals they may contain from damaging the environment, reduce waste from going to the landfills, and conserve natural resources, all of us must play our role as one community in recycling the waste we generate if we aspire to make Qatar a beautiful and modern place to live and work.”

The officials noted that the collected batteries will be exported via sea for regulated disposal.

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