Free shopping in UAE: Recycle plastic bottles and earn rewards

Dubai: Recycling in UAE is no longer just the right thing to do; it is also the rewarding.

UAE residents can now earn points for every plastic bottle or aluminum can they recycle, thanks to Sparklo’s AI-powered reverse vending machines placed in everyday location across the UAE.

The process is simple, instant, and impactful: drop in a bottle, earn points through the Sparklo app, and redeem them for discounts on essentials like groceries, taxi rides, deliveries and much more. You can earn 10 points for every bottle or aluminum can you recycle using a Sparklo machine, known as a Sparklomat.

“These points are real currency inside the Sparklo app, redeemable for discounts on groceries, taxi rides, food delivery, and more. It is seamless and gives immediate feedback,” said Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo, a global UAE-based cleantech company.

“You recycle, and you get rewarded. It is that simple,” Kaplevich explained in an interview with Gulf News.

How it works

Using AI, Sparklomats recognise recyclable materials, even if they are missing labels or barcodes, within milli seconds. Just drop in your items, and the machine sorts it automatically. The Sparklo app instantly logs your recycled item and credits your account with points: 10 points for every item. From there, users can browse rewards and redeem them within the app.

“We are making recycling intuitive and rewarding. You don’t need to scan anything or prepare the item. The machine handles it, all you do is recycle,” added Kaplevich

Building habits

Sparklo’s approach, he explained, is grounded in behavioural science. “Instead of penalising consumers or relying on refunds, it provides positive, immediate reinforcement. “Most deposit return systems are punitive, you pay first, then get it back. We flipped that model. At Sparklo, we simply reward people for doing the right thing and it is working,” added Kaplevich.

With over 280 machines across the UAE, including locations like malls, ADNOC fuel stations, LuLu Hypermarkets, and residential buildings, Sparklo now collects more than 250,000 bottles and cans a day. More than 23 million items were recycled in Abu Dhabi alone in 2024, avoiding over 3.5 million kg of CO₂ emissions.

From waste to awareness

Beyond rewards, the machines act as powerful education tools. Each Sparklomat displays real-time recycling data and environmental facts, helping users understand the broader impact of their actions.

Kaplevich noted: “When someone sees a friend earn points or reads that their bottle just helped avoid carbon emissions, it clicks. That awareness leads to repeat behaviour, and that builds a habit.”

A growing community of green action

Kaplevich further said that Sparklo has already built the largest incentive-driven recycling community in the Middle East, with over 350,000 active users. Since launch, the company has recycled more than 95 million bottles and cans — and distributed millions of dirhams worth of rewards through its app.

Kaplevich said the goal is simple: make recycling feel good, work fast, and mean something. “We have made it easy and motivating. With every bottle, you are not just helping the planet, you are earning something back.”

Partnership

One of Sparklo’s most impactful partnerships is with the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD), the largest environmental regulator in the Middle East. As part of EAD’s Single-Use Plastic Policy, Sparklo has played a vital role in the used bottles return scheme.

Kaplevich added: “The partnership with EAD shows what’s possible when the public and private sectors unite. We’ve made recycling simple and accessible — and people are embracing it.”

How to start earning points