Dubai student Rishabh Mittal named Recycling Hero 2025 for environmental activism

A Dubai-based student and environmental advocate, Rishabh Mittal, has been recognised as the ‘Recycling Hero 2025’ by the Global Recycling Foundation, making him the sole recipient of this distinguished honour from the Middle East this year. The accolade highlights his significant contribution to promoting recycling and sustainable practices within the community.

Mittal is the founder of Going Green Dubai, a youth-led non-profit initiative dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability through community recycling efforts. Since its establishment, the initiative has successfully recycled a substantial amount of waste, including 5,645 kilograms of electronic waste, 17,557 plastic bottles, and 1,323 kilograms of paper. These efforts have set a commendable example of grassroots environmental action across the region.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mittal explained the motivation behind his environmental journey: “It started when I realised that recycling is something people want to do — but accessibility, especially for e-waste, is a major barrier. Old phones, chargers, cables — these are things most people have lying around, and as a tech enthusiast, I saw an opportunity to make a difference.”

His partnership with Enviroserve, a recycling facility based in Dubai, has been pivotal in advancing his cause. Enviroserve specialises in the secure recycling of a wide range of items, from personal electronic devices like phones and laptops to larger home appliances, including refrigerators and washing machines. The organisation’s comprehensive process includes safe data erasure and responsible recovery of materials.

Mittal, who is currently a Year 12 student at Dubai International Academy (DIA) Emirates Hills, shared, “Visiting Enviroserve gave me a clear understanding of the professionalism and reliability of their operations. It built my confidence to advocate for them within the community.”

Launching his first e-waste drive in Business Bay, Mittal conducted a 14-day campaign that collected 210 kilograms of electronic waste. This initiative subsequently expanded to his school and the wider Innoventures Education network. One notable campaign successfully garnered the collection of 1,000 kilograms of e-waste. Mittal, an Indian expatriate, has expressed his ambition to pursue studies in Environmental Engineering at university.

Beyond his school and local neighbourhood, Mittal has engaged broader segments of society including youth groups, schools, companies, and communities. He has collaborated with Emaar malls—specifically The Springs Souk, Meadows Village, and Meadows Town Centre—to place e-waste recycling bins at these locations, encouraging wider participation in reducing environmental impact.

The Recycling Heroes Competition, organised by the UK-based Global Recycling Foundation, recognises individuals and organisations that have made remarkable advances in recycling and sustainability. Entrants from around the globe submitted short videos showcasing their impactful initiatives, with Mittal’s work standing out prominently.

Hitesh Bhagat, Principal of DIA Emirates Hills, praised Mittal’s commitment: “Rishabh has demonstrated his dedication to sustainability since Year 9 by running multiple campaigns in school. His e-waste recycling campaigns have gained widespread support from the community which also contributed to our school being named as a top three finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2024 in the Environmental Action category.”

Rishabh Mittal’s efforts represent a growing movement of youth-led environmental activism in the Middle East, illustrating how individual and collective initiatives can shape positive ecological outcomes.

Source: Noah Wire Services