The device will also provide empty bottles in which residents can bring used oil.

Emirati cities along with their peers in neighbouring countries are moving in the direction of becoming smart urban spaces, thanks to innovative solutions that are powered by AI, cloud and renewable resources, which are facilitating a futuristic lifestyle for residents as well as expats. But in an age when climate change threatens to make living conditions in the region difficult, sustainability has become a major priority as administrations are looking for ways to cut down emissions, achieve food security and adopt greener alternatives to fossil fuels.

Among key issues that need to be addressed for eco-friendly development of cities, effective waste management has received a boost in the UAE, thanks to projects like one of the world's largest waste to energy plants near Dubai, and a massive unit to dispose of e-waste around the connected city. Joining the Middle East's tech oasis is its neighbouring emirate of Sharajah, which has now installed machines which are programmed to collect used cooking oil from households, which would otherwise end up clogging drainage or in landfills.

Set up at a parking lot near the city's national park, the device also dispenses empty bottles, which the residents can fill up with used cooking oil before depositing it in the machine for recycling. Once the oil is gathered by these innovative gadgets, it'll be processed in order to generate bio-diesel which is known for being a green fuel, and can also be derived from animal fat as well as grease.

Apart from making sure that money and effort doesn't go into clearing pipelines of oil dumped down the drain, the process will ensure that the waste product doesn't emit greenhouse gases at garbage dumps. To bring things full circle, the green diesel created from used cooking oil, will later be used for trucks that'll collect trash to boost the recycling process in Sharjah.

These machines will be functional 24 hours a day, and will facilitate the UAE's journey towards becoming a zero-waste economy.