Special Features
RTA - Recycling Nol cards protects environment, promotes sustainability
The recycling of Nol cards retrieved from customers of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plays a significant role in conserving the environment in keeping with RTA’s strategy of boosting the environmental sustainability by converting the means of delivering public services into effective tools capable of cementing this civilized practice.
Luluah Al Asmakh, Deputy Director of RTA Automated Fare Collection, said: “Nol card is manufactured from PETF stuff; a degradable environment-friendly substance, and the RTA has the ability to recycle it through a technology in place at Card Services Center in RTA Head Office. The Center is fitted to recycle, activate and re-issue the card for use, and has an unlimited capacity to recycle or activate the card, provided it is not broken or has no malfunctioning in the electronic chip. Such an exercise prolongs the lifespan of the card by reactivating it, and cuts the expenses of dispensing rubbish leading to the pollution of the environment and the public health.
“The RTA is keen to make Nol card not just a means of transiting on board public transport, but also a product with immense contribution to protecting and preserving the environment from pollution, thanks to a host of features integrated in the card issued to customers. These include the manufacturing of Nol cards to the highest quality standards worldwide aimed at curbing the waste and protecting the environment, besides using the card for a 5-year period; which encourages customers to use public transit means. The RTA is currently mulling broadening the uses of Nol cards to include, besides public transport, purchases through the prepaid card balance,” explained Al Asmakh.
“Among the objectives sought by the RTA at the time of issuing Nol card was to rid the public of paper tickets issued against the payment of public transport fare; which, according to the international concept of conserving the environment, translates into minimizing the use of forest wood, the only source of manufacturing paper.