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THE COUNTRY & THE ENVIRONMENT - WASTE MANAGEMENT
UAE University’s innovative recycling bin scoops prizes in Japan
posted on 05/05/2013
 An innovative recycling bin at UAE University (UAEU) that smiles at users has helped to collect more bottles than a normal recycling bin — and has also shown that recycling can be fun.
The bin makes the sound of clinking coins once a polythene terephthalate (PET) bottle is placed in it and a smiley face appears on an LCD screen above it, said Dr Jose Berengueres, assistant professor at the College of Information Technology and head of the project team.
The smiling bin, placed in the IT college lobby, collected 360 bottles over four weeks, with an average weekly collection of 95 bottles, compared with just 103 bottles collected in a normal recycling bin over the same period.
"The results are encouraging and show that recycling can be a fun and rewarding experience,” he said.
The bin, developed by a team of IT students at UAEU, was recently shown in a video at a human robot interaction conference in Tokyo where it bagged two prizes, said a university spokesperson.
A short version of the video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xofgk_hguo&feature=player_embedded.
"Fun rewards work better than offers of cash or other material incentives and we have proved that by using just a smile,” said Dr Berengueres.
The smiling bin took just five weeks to conceive and produce and cost approximately Dh1,500 — the cost of a computer and a sensor to detect bottles being placed inside.
Fatima Al Suwairi, an Emirati student, wrote the software code that produced the smiley face response while other students helped analyse the research findings.
The team is now testing a cheaper alternative, an Android tablet, he added.
The team is also talking to government authorities and businesses about rolling out similar devices. The UAE has one of the world's highest waste-generation rates and very little of it is recycled.
According to studies carried out in 2010, it was estimated that Abu Dhabi residents produced between 1.8kg and 2.4kg waste daily per person. If this remains the same, the Abu Dhabi Government could be spending as much as Dh22 billion a year on waste management by 2030, said Dr Berengueres. – Gulf News
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Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa introduces food waste recycling unit
posted on 11/04/2013
 The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa has taken a giant step towards sustainability by recycling food waste into natural compost that can be added to the soil.
The hotel has installed a machine called the Waste Food Eater that can devour up to 600 kilograms of waste food at one go.
Sebastien Weyer, Director of Engineering, said the hotel recycles between 150 and 200kg of food generated by six restaurants daily, including the staff canteen that caters up to 250 people.
"Our staff is trained to segregate food waste. All kinds of waste food, including vegetables, meat and even bones can be processed into fertiliser by the machine. There is zero wastage of food ever since we got the machine in March. We are fast moving towards the concept of being a green hotel,” said Weyer.
The machine installed by Dubai-based Union Papers processes food waste into one-third its size by generating heat and through high-pressure mixing. "The moisture is removed from food and the extracted water is drained out through a pipe,” said Weyer. It takes 10 hours to complete a single cycle, and the end product, a dry brown soil-like powder, is currently used to fertilise the hotel's herb garden growing organic vegetables.
Marketing Manager Jonathan Hallmark said the hotel is piloting the initiative in the Starwood managed hotels in the UAE. "The machine will soon be rolled out in seven Starwood hotels in Abu Dhabi as part of our green initiative to cut down on carbon footprints.”
The natural fertiliser produced by the decomposing machine is currently being tested and graded by the Al Ain Environment and Water Laboratory. Hallmark said the hotel has plans to distribute the natural compost to local farmers and buy local produce from them for the hotel kitchen. – Gulf News/XPRESS
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TAQA, CWM to develop Dalma Island waste-to-energy
posted on 03/04/2013
 TAQA, the global energy company based in Abu Dhabi, and The Centre for Waste Management - Abu Dhabi (CWM) have extended their partnership by signing a Collaboration Agreement to study and develop a waste-to-energy demonstration facility at Abu Dhabi's Dalma Island.
TAQA and CWM will together develop a waste-to-energy facility that produces 1 to 2 megawatt of alternative energy. This will be enough to supply power to more than 200 households as well as providing a more efficient waste management solution.
Waste from Dalma Island, which lies 32 kilometres offshore Abu Dhabi's Western Region, is currently shipped to the mainland and further transported by road to landfills in Abu Dhabi.
TAQA and CWM teams have started conceptual studies for different waste-to-energy technical schemes to ascertain the best form of energy recovery from Dalma Island's waste, which includes household and organic waste.
TAQA and CWM are also developing a large scale waste-to-energy plant in Abu Dhabi and last month started the qualification process for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). The plant will convert up to 1,000,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a year into 100 megawatts of alternative power, enough energy to power more than 20,000 households in Abu Dhabi. The plant will be the first in the UAE and is expected to begin operations in 2016/17. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Minister of Environment issues resolution on hazardous waste transport
posted on 05/03/2013
 Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water has issued a resolution regulating the passage and export of hazardous waste shipments across the UAE border.
Federal Law No. 24 in 1999 on "the protection of the environment and development", defined hazardous waste as waste resulting from various activities and processes or its ashes containing various properties of hazardous materials such as batteries, used oils and medical waste coming from hospitals and clinics along with ink production waste such as dyes, paints and waste contained in production of lead, cadmium, mercury or copper.
The resolution comes in alignment with the "Basel" convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, of which the UAE has taken part since 1990. Such agreement aims to reduce hazardous waste generation and promote environmentally sound management of this waste regardless of the disposal location, it also aims to limit Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes across the border in order to protect the environment human health and from harm.
The resolution also prohibits the passage or exportation through sea, air, or land by any vehicles carrying hazardous waste without a written permission from the ministry in order to reduce the damage caused by the passage of operations and export of hazardous waste shipments across the UAE border.
The resolution stipulates the need to adhere to the provisions of the "Basel" Convention in terms of exporting hazardous wastes across the border, and is also applicable to all materials classified as hazardous waste by the convention.
The risk of this waste lies in its highly toxic form, its difficult decomposition and it's long term, which means it decomposes very slowly in the nature as it enters food chains through groundwater or soil, transporting it from one species to another thus becoming more concentrated in nature.
It also causes water pollution once it has flooded the sea and destroyed the marine life, more importantly the hazards taking a different form will eventually impact humans directly through contaminating the food chain causing fatal injuries and diseases in an impact that may last for years to come.
It is noteworthy that the Federal Law No. 24 for the year 1999 on the protection of the environment and development has banned import on all types of hazardous wastes or disposing of it in any form in the UAE environment. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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80 per cent of the deep tunnel works for the Strategic Green tunnel enhancement programme completed
posted on 05/02/2013
 Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) announced yesterday the completion of 80 per cent of the deep tunnel works for the Strategic Tunnel enhancement Programme "STEP".
A total of 33km has been completed out of 41km by the end of January 2013, and is expected to finish by the final quarter of 2015.
The project achieved a huge milestone with the 5th breakthrough in December 18th, 2012 with the completion of tunnelling between work shaft 9 and work shaft 8 at Al Wathba area in Abu Dhabi.
The STEP Programme started in February 2009 by ADSSC with an approved budget of Dh5.7 billion. The Programme is one of the largest and longest gravity-driven sewerage networks in the world and a remarkable investment for Abu Dhabi's government. It's also one of the largest economical projects in developing infrastructure using advanced technology of global high standards in meeting environmental and sustainability considerations.
Abdulla Ali Musleh Al Ahbabi - ADSSC Chairman, announced that STEP is one of ADSSC's five year strategic plan initiatives in compliance with Abu Dhabi's vision 2030, which include continuing the developments of projects and building a sustainable economy to compete globally, reflecting the wise vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
STEP is a huge infrastructure programme that includes completing 41 kilometre of deep sewer tunnel, 43 kilometre of smaller diameter link sewers and one huge pumping station with a pumping capacity of 30m3 per second. The deep tunnel is up to 5.5 internal diameter, starting at 27m underground reaching a depth of 100m.
Al Ahbabi also indicated that ADSSC aims to contribute effectively in developing the infrastructure to meet the growing demands in Abu Dhabi and to provide environmental friendly solutions, this through its vision, services and strategic plans. Once completed STEP will be considered as an effective and efficient solution in terms of cost and sustainability to meet the long term sewerage infrastructure demands of Abu Dhabi Island and surrounding islands across to the mainland. The estimated endurance of the strategic tunnel is 80 years without the need for regular maintenance.
ADSSC is contributing effectively to achieve Abu Dhabi's vision, as it provides sewerage services and supplies treated water at global standards to various private and public sectors. ADSSC contribution is part and parcel of the infrastructure system and government services in Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, the system will provide for an average wastewater flow of 800,000 cubic metres per day on completion in 2015, and will have an ultimate capacity to accommodate an average flow of 1.7 million cubic metres per day by 2030.
Link sewers up to 3 metres diameter will be used to intercept the flows from existing sewers upstream of the existing pumping stations, and convey the flows by gravity into the deep tunnel. The deep tunnel will then convey the flows, again by gravity, to the new main pumping station, located at Al Wathba area where the flows will be pumped out of the deep tunnel into Al Wathba Waste Water Treatment Plant to be reused for irrigation.
The deep tunnel will replace the existing main collector system and eliminate the need of 34 existing pumping stations spread over a huge land area.
The current milestone is the fifth breakthrough on STEP, with a tunnelling works at 73 metres underground. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) completed 4.2 km underground to breakthrough work shaft 8. This works was carried out under STEP contract T-03, awarded to M/S Impregilo and includes completing 9.7km of the deep tunnel in two sections, each section requiring a separate tunnel boring machine.
The 6.98m diameter tunnel boring machine started in February 2012 and achieved impressive accomplishment with a rate of 200 meter per week without any surface interruption. 70 engineers and technicians took part in this accomplishment.
The vast development of STEP to date has been was achieved by the continuous monitoring and following up with the time lined plans set by international consultants companies.
STEP offers many benefits as it provide new gravity-driven sewerage network that cover the growing demands of Abu Dhabi for the long term in parallel with the vast economic development and the population growth. It will also provide a new improved sewerage system, that offers various alternative solutions which are more efficient and environment friendly by reducing carbon emissions.
The strategic tunnel will eliminate the need of 34 existing pumping stations in Abu Dhabi mainland and surroundings. Noting that drilling works in the strategic tunnel and the link sewers are done precisely to avoid any disturbance in traffic, main roads and other infrastructure works. Beside to installing sewerage pipelines at deep level without the need for grader works.
The elimination of34 existing pumping stations will eliminate emissions and odours in different places, and will improve sewerage and environment services. It will also improve aesthetics for residential areas. The dedicated space for the current pumping stations will be used in other projects after elimination.
Due to the huge size of the sewage strategic tunnel and as one of the longest gravity - driven tunnels in the world, it is taking 8 tunnel boring machines up to 7 metres diameter to complete the deep tunnel. The 750-ton and 110m long TBM with its trailing backup equipment is used to drill through mixed ground conditions of dolomitic siltstone, claystone, mudstone, and gypsum without incident.
450,000 m3 of concrete will be used to line the deep tunnel (the equivalent of 180 Olympic size swimming pools full of concrete).
ADSSC paid great attention to the safety procedures for the programme nature and size. ADSSC holds HSE training courses regularly for the STEP team and enhances HSE education as it's everyone's responsibility to create a safe working environment. Besides implementing highest standards of safety in all work sites in the programme, constant inspecting tours are performed to assure applying safety procedures at work sites. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Towards zero waste
posted on 05/02/2013
 As Sharjah continues to strive towards becoming a greener emirate, its vision of reaching a ‘green city' status by 2015 looks set to become reality with its Al Sajja Landfill.
The plant is fast becoming the UAE's state-of-the-art Waste Management Centre (WMC) and its advanced facilities are capable of reaching zero waste to landfill in the very near future.
Spread over 3.75 square kilometres — about the size of 525 football pitches — Sharjah's WMC facilities operate on high international standards and more than 500 trucks pass through WMC's gates to dispose of various waste loads.
Currently, the centre houses the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), the Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Facility (CDW), the Tyre Recycling Facility (TRF), the Car Shredding and Light Metal Recycling Facility, the medical waste facility ‘Wekaya', the compost plant, the oil lagoons and industrial waste water evaporation ponds as well as the engineered landfill.
How technology converts these waste loads can be gleaned from the CDW that churns, in just 15 minutes, any construction waste into a smaller manageable product.
The Tyre Recycling Facility — the first of its kind in the region using environmentally cryogenic processes — recycles every single tyre into three flooring tiles and the Material Recovery Facility alone is designed to process 500,000 tonnes of waste annually.
Operated by Bee'ah, the Middle East's leading and award-winning fully integrated environment and waste management company, WMC received about 2.5 million tonnes of waste for disposal in 2009. By 2012, this figure decreased by 45 per cent as a result of the combined efforts of each division and the successful implementation of various community awareness programmes across Sharjah to divert waste from the landfill.
Chairman at Bee'ah Salim Al Owais says that zero waste should be a priority for all cities: "Looking at it from an economical point of view, by extracting the valuable materials for recycling will lead to less costs and resources to extract new material from the earth. This practice helps people and companies prosper while using fewer inputs, all the while contributing to a sustainable environment and economy.”
He says that diverting all waste from landfill will lead to less dependence on landfills and will help revolutionise Sharjah's waste management processes.
At WMC, collected industrial, commercial, medical and residential waste is sorted and sent to different state-of-the-art facilities. In Sharjah, 67 per cent of total waste by weight stems from construction.
Municipal solid waste is sorted out at the Material Recovery Facility, which is the largest in the region. Here, recyclables are recovered and baled while organic and green waste is processed at the Compost Plant. WMC's Wekaya and the landfill, one of the largest in the world and the only re-engineered plant using enhanced safety practices, safely store non-recyclable waste.
The Car Shredding and Recycling Facility is the latest addition to WMC and is the world's most powerful shredding machine to date, shredding old car bodies and other light metal scrap, shredding up to 60 tonnes of car bodies every hour.
"The domestic recycling rate in Sharjah has increased from 9,909 tonnes in the year 2011 to over 15,000 tonnes in 2012, the same year the residential recycling programme was rolled out,” he says.
The biggest contributor to the increase has been plastic recycling, including PET (used in bottled mineral water) and mixed plastic, with a 35 per cent increase from 2011 to 2012, followed by paper and cardboard recycling with a 20 per cent increase.
Statistics released by Bee'ah shows that approximately 4.5 per cent of the total amount of waste received monthly at the MRF (about 54 per cent annually) is diverted from the landfill through recycling. On a daily basis, more than 30 deliveries from Bee'ah haulage fleet arrive at the MRF for processing.
In 2012, Bee'ah launched the first residential recycling programme for low-rise residential areas in Sharjah, promoting waste segregation with the introduction of 2,000 pairs of blue and green coloured bins — blue for recyclables and green for general waste. Starting at Al Shabba area, the programme continued to Khezammia then to Halwan and gradually covered the entire emirate with more than 2, 240 residential villas and low-rise buildings receiving the dual-coloured bins by the end of the year.
The programme also targets schools with more than 160,000 students in over 200 schools across the emirate promoting the message of sustainability to their families and friends.
Whatever it takes, Sharjah is on its way to becoming a green city by 2015. – Khaleej Times
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Dubai Municipality launches region's first landfill gas recovery system at Al Qusais
posted on 15/01/2013
 Eng. Hussain Nassir Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality has affirmed that the Dubai Municipality has underlined its commitment to sustainable development in collaboration with the private sector for the benefit of public in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
This came during the commissioning of the region's largest landfill gas recovery system at its Al Qusais Landfill site, while ensuring that the site remains active.
Lootah said the new landfill gas recovery project is a significant milestone that complements the sustainable development vision of Dubai. A powerful demonstration of public private partnership in driving a CDM project, it underlines our commitment to be an active partner in achieving the Green Economy for Sustainable Development'.
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) initiative is registered with the United Nations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The implementation of the large-scale CDM project marks a new milestone for the region targeting the reduction of methane (CH4) measured in tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the landfill, with an annual reduction of approximately 250,000 tons.
The project has been designed, constructed and implemented by Green Energy Solutions '&' Sustainability LLC, a specialist organisation in the sector based in Dubai.
The Al Qusais Landfill is one of the largest sites for municipal waste collection in Dubai receiving about 5,000 tons daily.
Anita Nouri, Business Development Director of Green Energy Solutions '&' Sustainability Solutions LLC, added that we are truly honoured to have partnered with Dubai Municipality on this ambitious initiative that highlights Dubai's commitment to sustainability initiatives.
Nabil Habayeb, President '&' CEO, GE Middle East, North Africa '&' Turkey said Dubai Municipality has set a significant benchmark in the region with the commissioning of the landfill gas recovery system. As a long-term partner in the energy, power and water sector of the region, GE is committed to introduce advanced solutions that strengthen operational efficiencies and promote sustainability.
Construction work for the landfill gas project started in January 2012, with horizontal and vertical gas wells being drilled some 22 metres deep into the waste to extract the landfill gas. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Masdar to set up green recycling facility in Capital
posted on 14/01/2013
 A new recycling facility will be set up by Abu Dhabi's Centre of Waste Management, with environmental benefits expected across the board.
The Materials Recovery Facility, set up by UAE renewable energy company Masdar, will collect recyclable waste from the city and its neighbouring areas.
The Centre of Waste Management (CWM) says the facility will be the most energy efficient recycling plant in the UAE, while it says the centre will significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and the fuel consumption of CWM's fleet of cars - though neither Masdar or CWM would give further information on this, the reduction in fuel consumption will presumably come from a reduction in waste transportation.
The news of the facility came during an agreement signed yesterday between Masdar and CWM. Masdar City alone is expecting to produce 22,000 tonnes of waste a year, but its target is to recycle half of it.
"We, at the Centre of Waste Management, are glad to join hands with Masdar, the leading initiative in the fields of renewable energy and clean technology worldwide. The comprehensive agreement will lay the foundation for fruitful developments that support the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030,” said CWM general manager Mohamed Rashed Al Hameli.
The agreement also stipulates that Masdar will host an Eco Waste Exhibition during next year's Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, focusing on environmental-friendly waste management. CWM will also collaborate with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology on research and development and offer student scholarship programmes to help develop the sector. "Masdar's collaboration with the Centre of Waste Management illustrates our goal of advancing sustainable technologies to drive economic growth through human capacity building and commercially driven ventures,” mentioned Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. – Khaleej Times
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Biodegradable bags to become compulsory across the UAE
posted on 18/12/2012
 Biodegradable plastic carrier bags will become compulsory in all supermarkets in the new year, despite concerns by some experts that they might not be as environmentally friendly as first thought.
Many supermarkets have already switched to oxo-biodegradable bags, which break down much faster than normal plastic ones.
The Ministry of Environment and Water has said it will ban the supply and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags from January 1.
The new rules were brought in after it was found that discarded plastic bags, apart from being an eyesore, pose a risk to wildlife.
"The rules will be enforced at the start of the new year,” said Mohammed Saleh Badri, director general of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), the agency that is implementing the changes.
"The decision to bring in these new bags was done after extensive consultation with experts. Our inspectors have conducted checks on plastic-bag manufacturers and we will only give accreditation to companies that meet these standards.”
However, some experts warn that the new oxo-biodegradable bags may still pose a risk to the environment.
The chief administrative officer for Emirates Environment Technology – which runs a plastics recycling plant in Al Ain – Katharina Goeschl, said the chemical properties of the newer bags mean they cannot be recycled.
The centre receives 160 tonnes of the new degradable plastic bags from the eastern region of Abu Dhabi each month.
"We have tried to recycle these bags but the chemical property that makes them degrade so fast means they are not suitable for recycling.
"What will happen is that they will be dumped in landfill sites, and although they will break down into ever smaller pieces they won't completely degrade.
"The thing with the older plastic bags is that they are perfect for reuse and recycling but you can't do that with oxo-degradable bags.”
But Mr Badri said the key reason the new plastic bags were being introduced was to solve the problem of uncollected bags littering the environment and even suffocating wild animals.
The government is now looking to bring in similar regulations for other household plastics.
Mr Badri said: "No plans have been finalised as yet but we are looking to see what we can do to make things like daily use plastics that get thrown away more environmentally friendly. These are things used by people every day, like plastic knives and forks, which are used once and then thrown away.”
He added that Esma would review the issue in depth after about six months. – The National
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ReVa reverse vending machines to reward recyclers with air miles
posted on 09/12/2012
 Tecom Business Parks yesterday launched the ReVa reverse vending machine through a unique collaboration between Enpark, averda and Air Miles.
The machine enables users to exchange plastic bottles and aluminium cans for handsome rewards from the region's premier loyalty programme, Air Miles.
Recyclers can now get recognition for their efforts by collecting two Air Miles for every unit deposited in any one of the 15 ReVa reverse vending machines located across Tecom business parks.
Saeed bin Ghubash, director, Enpark, Tecom, said: "At Enpark we are dedicated to helping businesses grow by raising awareness for our employees and for Tecom's thriving business community about the operational efficiencies that can be achieved through the adoption of initiatives that reduce waste and energy usage. By making recycling more accessible, the ReVa reverse vending machine is also working to change the habits of those working in and living near Tecom free zones. We are, therefore, extremely pleased to be able to promote the innovative work of averda, one of Tecom's 4,500 business partners, as this machine demonstrates first-hand exactly how such initiatives can be incorporated into commercial areas and across business communities.”
Speaking at the event that took place in Tecom's Al Thuraya Hall, averda's managing director, John Irvine, said: "We chose Air Miles as our redemption partner because of its simple, convenient and flexible solutions.
As an organisation it's crucial we continue to raise recycling awareness within communities and throughout public and commercial spaces, by promoting this convenient, cutting-edge technology. We see involvement from stakeholders like Tecom, and support from various industries - particularly government-run, schools and universities, retail and media – as key to the sustainability and success of these initiatives.” ReVa, with its message of ‘Renewing Nature, Rewarding You', encourages recycling by rewarding consumers with incentives. All cans and plastic bottles can be deposited in the ReVa reverse vending machines allowing individuals to play their own part in the UAE's environmental progress.
Air Miles Middle East's CEO, Mark Mortimer-Davies, said: "We are delighted to become the exclusive partner in this fantastic eco-friendly initiative and it's a truly novel way for our members to collect Air Miles and redeem for their dream rewards while helping the environment.”
The 15 ReVa machines can be found in communal areas of Enpark; Dubai Internet City; Studio City; Academic City; Dubai Outsourcing Zone; International Media Production Zone; Dubai Media City; DuBiotech and Dubai Knowledge Village. – Khaleej Times
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Cutting-edge technology keeps racing venue squeaky clean
posted on 04/11/2012
 The Centre for Waste Management — Abu Dhabi (CWM) collected 640 tonnes of waste from the premises of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012, as part of the round-the-clock waste management services offered to Yas Island for the third consecutive year.
Using cutting-edge technology, nearly 23 per cent of the waste — totalling 150 tonnes — was recycled.
The CWM uses customised environmental solutions to ensure cleanliness at the sporting facility on Yas Island. The services cover all Formula One events, including the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012, along with the concerts and other activities held on the sidelines of the events.
The circuit clean-up is overseen by Averda Waste Management LLC as part of a five-year contract with CWM.
The CWM rolled out its preparation on Yas Island two weeks ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012 with intensive cleaning operations. This included washing 75km of roads and cleaning furniture, as well as collecting general and pneumatic waste.
Services provided by CWM during the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012 weekend included mechanical sweeping, litter-picking, kerb-side street washing, waste collection and beach cleaning.
Specialised equipment such as Madvac, compactors, sweepers, and roll-on-roll-off (RORO) containers are used to maintain the Yas Island area.
As Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012 represents an exciting time for the UAE, the level of dedication was higher to ensure a premium experience for all visitors to the capital.
This year witnessed increased manpower and state-of-the-art machinery deployed at Yas Island to ensure a thorough service throughout the Formula One weekend.
Up to 55,000 visitors attended the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012, running from Nov.2-3, as compared to around 40,000 visitors last year. – The Gulf Today
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Dubai Municipality to help shopping centres to segregate waste
posted on 30/10/2012
 Shopping centres will soon be provided with municipality approved containers to segregate waste as part of the authority's aim to promote recycling in the emirate.
"We have to intensify our efforts to promote the culture of recycling and reuse, and have many technologies to recycle things and reduce overall waste generation,” said Abdul Majeed Saifaie, director of Waste Management Department at Dubai Municipality.
"The segregation of waste should be done from its very origin to help in the collection and recycling procedures,” he asserted.
Currently more than 80 per cent of the waste that is generated goes to landfills. The civic body has plans to recycle 100 per cent of all waste by 2030.
He said the move to recycle waste has been implemented in line with the strategic vision of Dubai. It is aimed at reducing the quantity of waste and to provide a clean environment and pollution-free atmosphere.
Saifaie pointed out that the Municipality will start distributing recycling bins to shopping centres shortly and from February next year, the initiative will cover all the shopping centres in the emirate.
He said residents should also be encouraged to recycle as on an average each resident generates about 2.7 kilograms of waste, that adds up to almost 1,000 kilograms per person a year.
"A special team from the Waste Management Department of Dubai Municipality will carry out inspections to ensure the new directions are properly carried out and that all participants are adhering to the required standard,” he said.
Municipality officials also added that a manual was handed to shopping centres late last week to guide them through meeting the required standards of segregating waste, and that experts in recycling will also assist commercial establishments in producing useful materials from waste. – Gulf News
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Dubai Airports recycles more than 530 tonnes of solid waste in H1 2012
posted on 15/09/2012
 Dubai Airports has stepped up its efforts to limit the environmental impact of solid waste, recycling more than 530 tonnes of paper, carton and plastic collected across Dubai International during the first six months of 2012.
Between January and June this year Dubai Airports collected 426 tonnes of cardboard, 54 tonnes of plastic, 13 tonnes of plastic bottles and aluminium cans, and 37 tonnes of paper for recycling.
"We are increasingly focusing our efforts on limiting the impact of our operations on the environment and ultimately contributing to the development of a clean, sustainable future for a sector that contributes 28 per cent of Dubai's GDP," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.
Dubai Airports' environment management plan targets six key areas: sustainable design, waste management, energy efficiency, fuel efficiency (air and ground traffic management), air quality (indoor and outdoor emissions and noise) and transportation of dangerous goods/ live animals/perishables.
In its bid to focus public attention on the need for a more sustainable approach to aviation, Dubai Airports will this year again join volunteers, companies and environmental groups around the world in support of Clean up the World Day on September 16.
Now in its 20th year, the Clean Up the World initiative, held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries annually, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Abu Dhabi centre launches awareness drive on illegal dumping of waste
posted on 11/09/2012
 The Centre of Waste Management, Abu Dhabi (CWM), launched on Sunday an awareness campaign to highlight the risks of "Illegal Dumping of Waste and Sewage” throughout the emirate, including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region.
The campaign will continue till Sept.27.
At a press conference held in the capital on the same day, it was highlighted that illegal dumping of waste and sewage posed serious environmental risks to future generations.
Saif Al Shamsi, Strategic Planning and Performance Management Department Manager, CWM, said that soil contamination by sewage, including heavy metals and toxic substances contained in sewage leftovers, may lead to the degradation of soil texture and its inability to support plant production, in addition to the movement of toxic substances through the food chain, passing into the groundwater.
"This misconduct is regarded as a major threat to human health. Plant absorbed pollutants are passed to animals and cattle, which may endanger human health,” he added.
In addition, such malpractices result in the forming of insect and rodent nests and wells and pose a threat of emerging infectious diseases found in these wells and nests.
He said that the campaign aims to spread awareness among individuals and private sector, from contractors to consultants, and other stakeholders about the significance of preserving public hygiene and abstaining from disposing of sewage and waste in an unauthorised area.
He went on to add that it is also tailored to spread awareness about the environmental risks posed by illegal dumping and its impact on the future generations as well as to protect natural and animal resources.
Al Shamsi asserted that illegal dumping of waste and sewage is recognised as a punishable offence and breach of applicable laws.
The law stipulates that if a person commits such violations, he shall be subject to imprisonment and a minimum fine of Dhs5000, or one of them, in addition to confiscation of the material used in committing such a violation.
He further highlighted the environmental impact of such malpractices on the groundwater stock.
Stressing the importance of properly handling and disposing of waste, Al Shamsi added that various companies and facilities were accredited by CWM to engage in such works to ensure proper waste handling.
Meanwhile, the CWM called on all the segments of society to cooperate in preserving the environment by reporting such violations directly to the Unified the Government of Abu Dhabi Contact Centre on 800555. – The Gulf Today
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Dubai makes waste management binding on malls
posted on 28/08/2012
 With only one in five Dubai shopping centres and malls segregating waste at source, Dubai Municipality has moved to address issues malls face in implementing the policy.
A senior Dubai Municipality official told Gulf News that the initiative is part of efforts to achieve 100 per cent implementation by 2013.
Shopping centres and malls had been sent a circular last year urging them to segregate waste at source. However many of them did not comply with the Waste Management Department's deadline, which was set for February this year.
The Waste Management Department had also asked shopping centres and malls to submit monthly reports on the action they had taken to segregate waste. So far, only 20 per cent of shopping centres and malls have been able to comply with the directives and they have been informed that Dubai Municipality is appraised of the situation.
"We will soon hold a meeting with the representatives from shopping centres and malls to discuss reasons for non-implementation. We want to know if they are facing any problems in implementing and want to remove those hurdles. We do not want to give them any reasons for non-implementation,” Abdul Majid Saifaei, director of the Waste Management Department at the municipality, told Gulf News.
Earlier, major retail establishments were told that Local Order No 11/2003 would be applicable if they failed to comply with the directives by February 2012.
Saifaei said, "Our goal is to ensure that all the malls and shopping centres comply. Imposing fines is not our goal, we will listen to what the issues are so that these are effectively taken care of.”
The meeting with retail establishments is set to take place in the coming weeks and Dubai Municipality is confident of meeting its target of 100 per cent waste segregation by 2013.
Dubai aims to ultimately recycle 100 per cent of its waste and bring the percentage of garbage being sent to landfills from the existing 80-90 per cent to zero by 2030. Asking shopping malls to segregate waste at source will help the emirate attain this goal.
According to the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC), Dubai currently has 70 shopping malls and shopping centre units totalling 2.6 million square metre of retail space.
Last year, an average of 8,000 tonnes of general municipal waste was generated daily in Dubai, with the individual average put at 2.8 kilograms daily. Dubai has succeeded in cutting its daily waste generation from around 10,000 tonnes a day over the last few years. – Gulf News
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Empowering community to recycle
posted on 30/04/2012
 The site went live as environmentalists shared news and communicated and interacted with one another about community events and tips. With support from the site's Facebook page and twitter feed, visitors are encouraged to frequently revisit and engage in the conversation about the environment.
Bee'ah in partnership with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) also successfully organised the first environmental walkathon. Residents in large numbers took part in the event, and helped draw attention and raise awareness on the importance of recycling and the protection of the environment of Sharjah and the UAE.Salim bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Bee'ah said: "At Bee'ah, we believe that the key to achieving our environmental goals is to empower the community to adopt sustainable habits, by educating them with environmental principles, as well as providing them with the tools to make recycling a very simple and easy task.
"This is why we are creating various initiatives to help overcome the UAE's environmental challenges, and attain our goal of zero-waste by 2015 across Sharjah by finding other uses for waste as valuable resources. We are already on the way forward and hope that each member of society will attribute to our successes on our journey of progress.”
Khaled Al Huraimel, Chief Executive Officer of Bee'ah said: "mybeeah.ae is the first environmental interactive website in the region that gives individuals the power to make a difference! We are very pleased with the responses we have received so far from the public and have already registered 5,000 members even before the launch. It is a big encouragement as it demonstrates that we are on the right path of delivering our sustainable promise in educating the youth, engaging the public, and leading the change towards a more sustainable environment and a greener future.”
Environmental advocates can register on the new website for the mybee'ah loyalty programme which rewards loyal environmentalists with redeemable points for their individual environmental efforts. This can be done by recycling at the Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) located around Sharjah city and soon around the UAE, by participating or volunteering at environmental events or even by engaging on the website. Points are redeemed in exchange for discounts, vouchers and other incentives from affiliate partners. – Khaleej Times
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Sharjah to launch UAE's first reverse vending machines
posted on 22/04/2012
 Sharjah will mark Earth Day on Sunday with the launch of 10 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), which is part of the city's myBeeah recycling rewards campaign.
The machines, which will be installed at high-footfall locations like Al Majaz Park and Al Qasba, accept plastic bottles and aluminium cans and award a point for every deposit, which can later be redeemed.
An online portal, http://www.myBeeah.ae will also be launched today, allowing people to sign up for the loyalty programme and avail of rewards for their recycling efforts.
"The UAE's first recyclables reverse-vending machines — around 10 — will be placed in high-footfall locations across the city of Sharjah, starting from April 22, along with myBee'ah online portal, www.myBeeah.ae, which is a Bee'ah initiative aimed at empowering the community to practise environmentally friendly habits to live sustainably and improve the environment of the UAE," said Khalid Al Huraimel, CEO of Bee'ah.
Projects to install similar reverse vending machines were announced in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last year, but they have not materialised.
Sharjah also announced it would have such machines installed in December 2011, but the project was delayed for unknown reasons.
The reward system will work on a points basis, with those registered online getting loyalty cards through which points can be collected and redeemed.
Points can be earned for every PET plastic bottle or aluminium can deposited in the machine. The machine will scan the item and then ask the user to scan their myBee'ah card which will award points into their account for which the user will receive a printed voucher.
Shedding light on the objectives of the reward system Al Huraimel added: "People are encouraged and rewarded for their good actions which benefit both their environment and their city. The objective of this loyalty programme is to reward loyal environmentalists for their individual recycling efforts by earning points based on the number of plastic bottles and aluminium cans deposited in Bee'ah's recyclables reverse vending machines as well as participating in environmental competitions and events through the online social community, www.myBeeah.ae."
Points can be used to avail of discounts and prizes from participating venues and outlets.
"Interested environmental loyalists can register their name and details on the website, http://www.mybeeah.ae starting today and they will be notified via e-mail of the details of the loyalty programme, how to get their cards issued, and the benefits they can receive as a member," said Al Huraimel. – Gulf News
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ADAC registers 23.6% in recycled waste by end of 2011
posted on 12/04/2012
 Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the operator of Abu Dhabi's five airports, released its waste recycling report for 2011, which reveals that ADAC reached the recycling of 23.6% of waste generated at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the company's headquarter by the end of 2011.
This equals approximately to 244,432 kg of waste from a total of 1,035,727 kg. Throughout the year the type of materials that were recycled included wood, cardboard, plastic and paper, with cardboard amounting to the highest figure after general waste An average of 85,600 kg of cardboard was recycled each month, followed by paper with an average of 43,446 kg and timber at 36,760 kg.
The company's waste management strategy was accompanied by a company-wide recycling awareness campaign, aimed at inspiring and motivating all staff members to play their part in recycling waste material.
The report also revealed that engine and cooking oil, metal, and paper material were the most wasted materials in the airport. The different materials have either been reused within the company or transferred to other organisations such as Masdar which recycles ADAC's wood waste for reuse in landscaping. The company is currently working in conjunction with Environment Agency and in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group to continuously improve its sustainability performance.
A further sustainable initiative, in November 2011 Abu Dhabi International Airport became the first Carbon Accredited Airport in the Asia Pacific region under the Airport Council International (ACI)'s Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme. ACI EUROPE also released last week an update on its flagship climate change initiative detailing the progress made by airports in lowering their own CO2 emissions. As of January 2012, some 55 airports in Europe (plus Abu Dhabi Airport in Asia Pacific), are now Airport Carbon Accredited at one of the four available levels of certification ('Mapping', 'Reduction', 'Optimisation' and 'Neutrality'). These airports welcome some 52% of European passenger traffic each year.
Since its launch in Europe in June 2009, the institutionally endorsed programme Airport Carbon Accreditation has seen significant progression. In November 2011, the programme expanded to the Asia-Pacific region, gaining the support of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) at that time too. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Door to Door recycling project highlighted
posted on 09/04/2012
 The Door to Door Recycling Project undertaken in various regions of the Emirate has proved to be successful and it is intended to implement the service Emirate wide as part of the strategist direction of the Centre of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi and effecting the need for local communities to interact and respond to the recycling trends in modern civilisation in general.
It is also important to improve hygiene and reduce the amount of waste generated through the waste hierarchy to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes, and to develop new industry for the use of recyclable materials.
Much has been achieved since the inception of this programme and further effects are being implemented by the CWM to create public awareness and education through a dedicated team of trained representatives and media campaigns.
The CWM has specially trained people who will visit homes and meets with families to clarify and discuss any issues and how the system works. The door to door system incorporates two plastic waste containers with the green bin used to collect the dry recyclables and a black bin to collect all general wastes. The containers are to be kept in household, compounds and put out for collection as required.
The CWM contracts companies to collect these containers separately and ensures that all recyclables are preceded for further area. The residual waste is sent to landfill.
To date the project has been implemented in 10 areas in Al Ain as well as Madinat Zayed in the Western Region. In Abu Dhabi many areas including the Abu Dhabi Island, Khalifa A, Khalifa B, Bein Jesrain and Mohammed Bin Zayed cities have also been covered. It is intended to provide the service for the entire Emirate of Abu Dhabi. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Abu Dhabi steps up fight against illegal dumping
posted on 18/03/2012
 Abu Dhabi targets to reduce complaints on illegal dumping of waste by 90 per cent soon as garbage trucks and waste water tankers are tracked round-the-clock by GPS (global positioning system) trackers, a senior municipal official told Gulf News recently.
As of February 28, the Centre of Waste Management-Abu Dhabi (CWMA) has fitted 98 per cent of the lorries with GPS trackers, Saif Al Shamsi, Director of Excellence and Quality Department at CWMA, said.
He said the remaining two per cent are expected to be fitted with GPS trackers by the end of April as they have been issued final warning to this effect.
"If they do not comply with the rule, those companies' permit for waste transportation will be revoked and trade licence for waste management operations will be suspended," the official said.
The CWMA is responsible for the collection and disposal of waste in the emirate. It has outsourced waste management services to about 2,000 companies, of which 760 are dealing with collection and transportation of waste. They handle 33,000 tonnes of waste per day which comes over ten million tonnes annually.
Before introducing the GPS tracking system, complaints on illegal waste dumping were widespread, especially in the emirate's Western Region.
People used to complain about waste collection trucks dumping sewerage water in the deserts and thus, polluting farms in the region. But statistics regarding the complaints that were logged before the CWMA were not readily available with the official.
The CWMA is monitoring the waste transportation fleet through its GPS Operations and Control Room.
The CWMA issues violation citations and takes legal and administrative action against violators in coordination with other government entities, Al Shamsi said.
He said the state of the art system sends alerts to its inspectors whenever a tanker, for example, discharges waste water outside a designated treatment facility.
The tracking system works 24 hours a day, seven a days a week, throughout the year. The system can also determine a truck's load volume and when and where these are disposed of, he said.
The CWMA is targeting to eliminate more than 90 per cent of all illegal dumping violations in the emirate through different tools, procedures and regulations, he added.
Green initiatives
The Centre of Waste Management — Abu Dhabi (CWMA) has highlighted the new investment opportunities in eco-friendly waste management. Among the areas where potential investors can get into include: recycling and processing of electronic waste and used cooking oils, and establishment of certified waste management consultancies to support various waste management efforts undertaken by different entities in the emirate, said Saif Al Shamsi, Director of Excellence and Quality Department at CWMA.
Al Shamsi spoke at a recent workshop organised by the CWMA to enhance the communication with different waste management stakeholders. It was part of the "communicate for excellence" programme to encourage and support the recycling Industry, sustainable initiatives and the centre's strategic plan to divert 90 per cent of waste in the emirate from landfills to the recycling industry by 2018. The officials said the centre supports green and recycling industries through regulations, logistics and financial support to help achieve the centre's strategic objective in establishing a comprehensive waste management and recycling industry in the emirate. He said the centre has registered and licensed 2000 environmental service providers during the past 18 months in the emirate.
To report complaints on waste collection:
• Call toll free number: 8001122 – Gulf News
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Dubai residents to get recycle bins in green drive
posted on 15/02/2012
 Dubai has taken another step towards its goal to be a green city and the latest initiative is to provide as many as 3,700 waste recycle bins free of cost to households in the emirate.
The waste department of the civic body has launched a community initiative called ‘My City My Environment', under which households in Al Mizhar 1, Al Mizhar 2 and Nad Al Hamar, will be provided with two types of bins — recycle and waste. The service initiative was launched by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, yesterday.
So far, recycle bins are placed outside several communities in the emirate and it is the first time that the municipality is reaching households at an individual level for this initiative.
After a trial this year, the Dubai Municipality plans to extend the initiative of providing recycle bins to households across all localities in the emirate.
"It is part of our efforts to segregate waste at the source. On an average, nearly 70 per cent of waste generated by every household in the emirate is non-organic (plastic, glass etc). If we are able to segregate it right from the level of households and recycle it, we will be able to reach our target of recycling 100 per cent of our waste fast," said Abdul Majeed Abdul Aziz Saifaie, director of Dubai Municipality's Waste Management Department.
Waste that is segregated can be directly sent for recycling whereas the one that is not will require extra resources to segregate and send it to landfill and recycling.
"We are making efforts at various levels to reach the target of recycling all our waste in line with our waste management plan," said Saifaie. The civic body has selected three private companies, Emdad, Averda and Dulsco to distribute the waste bins and collect waste directly from the houses in these areas.
The Waste Management department of Dubai Municipality is contemplating action against malls that are not segregating their waste.
"We sent them the proposal and also reminder. The deadline was February 1 and now we will have to find a way how this can be done," said Abdul Majeed Saifaie, director of Dubai Municipality's Waste Management Department. – Gulf News
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Sharjah residents to benefit from recycling initiative
posted on 07/02/2012
 Residents living in villas will now be able to segregate waste easily for recycling as environmental and waste management company, Bee'ah, on Monday launched the first residential recycling initiative here.
In a tribute to UAE National Environment Day that was held last Saturday, Bee'ah in tandem with the Sharjah Municipality has rolled out the residential recycling programme by introducing dual coloured bins to encourage waste segregation at home.
The shift from the current waste collection system to the dual-stream recycling process means residents will be able to dispose of all recyclables, including paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and aluminium, into a blue bin while all other general waste will be deposited in a green bin.
"Every year, Sharjah households generate around 600,000 tonnes of waste of which we are recovering a small percentage for recycling and the rest goes to landfill. This number will drastically reduce with the residential recycling programme, boosting an increase of 5 to 10 per cent towards our target," Salim Al Owais, Chairman of Bee'ah, said.
"We are currently reaching more than 40 per cent of our target and aim to reach our objective of 100 per cent by 2015," Al Owais said.
Speaking at yesterday's press conference, Khalid Al Huraimel, Chief Executive at Bee'ah, said this is the first programme of its kind with a large-scale outreach in the Middle East.
"Bee'ah's residential recycling programme will commence today in planned phases, serving sector by sector. We have a goal to get this scheme rolled out by the end of 2012, but if all goes to plan we could see 75 per cent of residents in Sharjah benefiting from it as early as July," Al Huraimel said.
The first sector to benefit from the initiative is Al Shahba area. The initiative will next be implemented in Khezammia followed by Halwan. The programme will then be implemented in remaining residential villas by the end of December 2012, and will then focus on towns in the Eastern region.
Paper and plastic in focus
Environmentalists will gather in Dubai at the end of the month to discuss paper and plastic recycling. The Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference Middle East, set for February 27-28, is being held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, and will be hosted by US-based Recycling Today Media Group and Dubai-based Media Fusion.
Organisers said the "event will combine market-driven sessions examining commodity markets for recovered paper and plastics in a global context, insights from local policy makers on regional waste and recycling management development and case studies of how the industry is being developed from local recyclers." – Gulf News
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Sharjah vows to eliminate garbage by 2015
posted on 18/10/2011
 In four years, waste could be a thing of the past in Sharjah with all recyclables sorted and reused, organic waste composted and nothing at all going to landfills.
Sharjah's "Zero Waste" plan by 2015 was announced Monday by Bee'ah, the emirate's waste management company, at Green Middle East expo taking place until Wednesday.
The task means dealing with the 23,000 tonnes of municipal waste collected by Bee'ah every month and sorted or dumped at the Al Saj'ah landfill site. Since the beginning of this year, 34 per cent of that waste has been recycled, said Khalid Al Huraimel, Chief Executive Officer at Bee'ah.
To reach the goal, Dh100 million has been invested to deploy improved blue and green, odour-proof, scavenger-resistant bins all over Sharjah by 2012.
New equipment
New collection vehicles, bin washers, bin side-loaders and street cleaners have also been brought in from Europe for higher efficiency and better collection operation throughout the streets of Sharjah.
Residents will be able to throw recyclable waste such as paper, cardboard, glass, plastics or aluminium into a blue single container and all other general waste into a green container.
"It's clear that zero-waste is the way forward. The most sustainable countries in the world are already implementing best practices and technology to attain zero-waste," said Salim Al Owais, Chairman of Bee'ah.
Technology
Solutions to deal with the mountain of waste will include waste to energy technology, organic composting and metal recycling.
"Internationally, this type of recycling programme has worked tremendously well, resulting in more recyclables taken out of the general waste stream and the quantity of recyclables increasing, while residual waste decreases," said Al Huraimel.
The lack of well-enforced environmental legislation continues to mar the industry's cleanup efforts.
Landfill for importers
"Unfortunately there are no rules or legislation to protect the environment from imports into the country. Sharjah has become the landfill for importers. They bring equipment that they can't recycle in other countries here. This should be stopped," said Salim Al Owais, Bee'ah Chairman.
Business opportunities abound in the waste management sector in the UAE, he said. "We don't look at it as a business when the environment has been damaged… but there is huge potential for business."
Al Owais believes privatisation of waste management — traditionally the domain of municipalities — is the way to go in the UAE.
Government of Holland
The Dutch government is providing consultancy to Bee'ah on ways to reduce waste production as the UAE has the highest amount of waste per capita, Al Owais said.
Keynote speaker at the forum, Ebrahim Abdul Matin, policy advisor for long-term planning and sustainability at the office of the mayor of New York city, said the US city of nearly eight million people has its own goals to divert 75 per cent of its waste from landfills by 2030.
"This demands behaviour change because we actually need to use less," he said. "If people change their behaviour than the government can change but governments needs to make the rules."
Three facilities
Bee'ah, a Sharjah-based waste management company was set to sign Tuesday a €500 million (Dh2.58 billion) deal with the Dutch government to develop facilities on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis to help Sharjah become a zero-waste emirate by 2015, a top official told Gulf News.
Bee'ah will manage three facilities for e-waste, waste-to-energy and compost that the Dutch government will operate for a limited time, said Salim Al Owais, Bee'ah Chairman. The period is yet to be determined.
Bee'ah's total investments to date reach Dh800 million in waste disposal plants in Sharjah, he said. It was founded in 2007 as a public-private partnership with Sharjah Municipality. The household waste plant has been established at a cost of Dh220 million and the tyre recycling facility is worth Dh180 million, Al Owais said.
The construction and demolition waste recycling facility at Al Saja'a is worth Dh75 million and the medical waste plant Dh25 million, he added. – Gulf News
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Abu Dhabi to divert 90% of waste from landfills
posted on 18/10/2011
 Abu Dhabi aims to dump zero waste in landfills in the future as the emirate which annually generates over ten million tonnes of waste has already lost 1,800 hectares of land to landfills so far.
"The Centre of Waste Management — Abu Dhabi (CWM) aims to have a world-class integrated waste management system based on the principle of three "Rs" — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle — and we are aiming at zero waste to landfills by introducing the latest technologies," a senior official said yesterday.
"With over 10 million tonnes of municipal waste generated annually in the emirate, the figures hold a grim reflection of the future of the environment as we see it today," said Hamad Al Ameri, General Manager of CWM at the second Annual Waste Management Middle East Forum.
The forum is hosted by Fleming Gulf Conferences under the patronage of the CWM which is also endorsed by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management).
Abu Dhabi aims to divert 90 per cent of the waste from landfills by 2018, senior officials told Gulf News on the sidelines of the forum.
"Abu Dhabi has already announced the reduction of waste generation by 80 per cent by 2018 and we aim at 25 per cent reduction by next year," said Rami Abu Hayah, general manager of Nadafa Programme at CWM. Nadafa is a comprehensive programme to minimise waste generation and promote sustainable waste management practices. A tariff regime for the businesses under this initiative drives home the message "Generate less waste and pay less fee!"
The emirate generates 33,000 tonnes of waste per day. Per capita waste generation in the emirate is 1.8 to 2 kilos per day, he said.
This rate is less compared to several developed countries, said Jamal Al Jeetawy, technical adviser of NADAFA Programme at CMW. The centre is creating a comprehensive database to help the policies on waste management in the emirate.
New recycling centres
"We also give guidance to businesses on how to reduce waste," they said.
Out of a million tonnes of waste generated annually in the emirate, a few per cent of this is recycled, a senior official said.
Although the amount of waste recycled is going up day by day thanks to the new recycling centres, it will take time to recycle all the waste, said Abu Hayah.
It takes around one to two years to set up a recycling factory, he said.
As Gulf News reported earlier, the UAE economy is losing Dh1.5 billion every year due to inadequate recycling of waste.
Several recycling facilities have come up in the emirate recently, the official said. There is construction and demolition waste recycling facilities in Al Dhafra and in Al Ain. Two tyre recycling plants have also been set up recently, he said.
Incentives to cut trash
Abu Dhabi uses a carrot and stick policy to reduce waste in the industrial sector.
Businesses which generates 80 per cent of the waste in the emirate have been asked to reduce waste by 20 per cent by next year and earn incentives for it, said Rami Abu Hayah, general manager of NADAFA Programme at CWM. "If they reduce waste, their annual fee under the tariff regime will be reduced by 20 per cent. Otherwise they have to pay 20 per cent more," he said.
There are 70,000 to 80,000 companies in the government, semi-government and private sector in the emirate, which will be registering with the tariff regime of the Centre of Waste Management (CWM) by the end of this year. About 40,000 of them have already registered to pay an annual fee of Dh225 per tonne [waste generated] since March 16. – Gulf News
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Dubai Municipality announces Clean Up the World campaign 2011
posted on 18/10/2011
 The Waste Management Department of Dubai Municipality has yesterday announced the launch of Clean Up the World campaign 2011, which will be organised starting from 23 to 28 October under the slogan "Our Place ... Our Planet...Our Responsibility". The country's largest voluntary clean up drive is in its eighteenth consecutive year, which started in 1994.
Announcing the campaign Eng. Salah AbdulRahman Amiri, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality said the civic body is proud to be a part of "Clean Up the World", which engages an estimated 40 million volunteers in 130 countries each year, making it one of the largest community based environmental campaigns in the world. It inspires and empowers community groups, schools, businesses, and local governments to join as Members and carry out community-based activities that address local environmental issues.
Mounib Hatab, Country Head U.A.E of Gulf Eternet Industries Co, one of the golden partners with municipality for many years said Clean Up the World is held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). By facilitating a local action, the event brings about global environmental change. Hence, it is our pleasure to be a strong supporter of this noble event with municipality in past years and we hope to make this event more popular and spread its message to a wider range of community in years to come.
"Opening ceremony and launch of campaign will be organised on 23rd October at 9 am in Al Saeed Road, which includes several environmental, heritage, cultural, painting and creak cleanup activities in addition to awarding ceremony and distribution of certificates. On 25th October "Say Yes to a clean Karama" Campaign will be launched followed by various attractive, rewarding and colourful activities in following days until 28th October, which will be conducted different locations of Dubai such as Wadi Al Mardi, Al Safouh Beach and Nad Al Shiba," he added.
Dubai Municipality is keen to participate in the annual event with various cities in the world in order to disseminate environmental awareness and education in the community to maintain the cleanliness of the environment through active and meaningful participation. Many educational institutions, local departments and various sectors in the emirate and those interested in environmental protection have joined hands with municipality.
This was stated by Abdul Majeed Mohammed Sifai, Director of Waste Management Department and the Head of the Clean Up the World Team. He said the department is all set for the campaign, events and associated activities. This annual event is considered integral to the functions of the Department on environmental issues and in addressing them and raising awareness and disseminating right environmental culture among the members of the community in the Emirate in light of the worsening environmental problems, which has become a danger to the health and safety of the society.
Baher Al Mahaini from West Cost Cleaning Company noted that the Clean Up the World is a global environmental campaign and is one of the most important awareness campaigns organised every year worldwide by Clean Up the World, the Australia-based Programme by UNEP since 1989. It aims to gather volunteers to work together for a massive campaign to clean up the environment together with a focus on raising awareness of decision makers and local and global communities on issues related to the environment and develop strategies for the sustainable management of waste.
Hussain Ghulam Hussain, Head of Administrative Support and Customers Section and General Coordinator of the campaign said the Clean Up The World has, over the past years, achieved positive results in educating young people the importance of maintaining a clean environment, developing their knowledge and providing them with comprehensive concepts for the environment.
"More than 7,000 students from various public and private educational institutions in the Emirate of Dubai, and more than 9,000 volunteers from the staff of government and private sector companies have participated in the events and activities of the campaign last year. The campaign has also succeeded in raising the level of environmental awareness and growing a sense of social responsibility among many members of the community and strengthening the role of educational institutions in the emirate in participating in such voluntary environmental campaigns organised by the Waste Management Department annually" he said.
Clean Up the World campaign provides the right platform for all segments of the society to participate in an environmental event that focuses on the joint work between different sectors, local departments and educational institutions to achieve its noble objective and develop the spirit of volunteerism," he added. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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