Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA)  is an association to represent the interests of the petrochemicals and chemicals industries in the Arabian Gulf. It has launched the "Waste Free Environment Day" campaign last year to spread awareness on plastics.  The awareness campaign targets responsible litter disposal. This year's campaign will take place today in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jubail, Riyadh, Rabigh and Kuwait simultaneously.

The GPCA estimates less than 10 percent of plastic is recycled in the Gulf. 33% of the 80 million tons of waste generated in the Gulf countries is plastic.

Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water inaugurated the campaign in Dubai while simultaneous events took place in Abu Dhabi and in three locations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Asma Braizat, the campaign representative in Dubai, said the campaign aims to increase both corporate and public awareness of the amount of plastic and other waste thrown away each year in the Gulf and to inspire both groups to reduce wastage and to recycle. She said, "The campaign also aims to underscore the beauty of the Gulf environment and inspire corporations and members of the public to strive and ensure that the environment remains pristine. It also aims to encourage school students to stop littering, collect waste and recycle, and demonstrate the plastic industry's dedication to waste reduction, and recycling."

Salamah Al-Dhafiri, the campaign representative in Jubail said, "The campaign also aims to promote the "reuse, reduce, and recycle" culture in the target groups. Reusing products that we think are useless can actually be of great value to others (one person's trash is another's treasure!)"