Have you got more Nol cards than you would use? Have your guests just left you with another stack of cards that will never be used? Or is your Nol card just waiting in your wallet for the public transport trip you might make in the far future? If so, you may want to turn it in for recycling.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will soon launch its first recycling programme, where public transport users are encouraged to return their smart cards if they do not use them.
One reason to do so is to gain the refund of the remaining balance on your card. “Customers will need to visit a Metro station ticket office to process the refund. After certain procedure and verification, customers will get the refund instantly,” explained Khalid Awadi, Director of the Automatic Collection System at RTA.
However, it is a green initiative, too, as the returned cards could be used again for fabrication. “Recycling is beneficial for society. It is a social responsibility of every resident to contribute to the betterment of this society,” argued Khalid.
Luluah Al Asmakh, Deputy Director of Automated Fare Collection Department of RTA, explained: “Nol card is manufactured from PETF - a degradable environment-friendly substance - and the RTA has the ability to recycle it at the Card Services Center. The Center is equipped to recycle, activate and re-issue the card for use, and has an unlimited capacity to do so provided it is not broken or has no malfunctioning in the electronic chip.
Currently, there are 6 million active Nol card users, and the number is continuously rising. However, passengers may have multiple Nol cards, of which some are left unused. Moreover, tourists may find no use of the Nol card when departing from Dubai, and may dispose the card consequently.
“Such an exercise (recycling) prolongs the lifespan of the card by reactivating it, and cuts the expenses of dispensing rubbish leading to the pollution of the environment and public health,” said Luluah.
When the scheme is implemented, public transport users will be able to turn in their Nol cards at all ticket offices. Every Metro station is facilitated with a ticket office, in addition to the 7 major bus stations including airport terminals, Al Gubaiba Bus Station, Gold Souq Bus Station, Jebel Ali Bus Station and Sabkha Bus Station.
“To increase the recycling rate of the Nol card we may offer it with various support activities, encouraging people to be part of this initiative,” said Khalid, adding that these activities will be advertised soon.
The RTA is currently mulling initiatives to broaden Nol card use to include, besides public transport, purchases through the prepaid card balance.
“Among the objectives sought by the RTA at the time of issuing the 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.