As part of its efforts to deliver against the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has announced expansion of energy incentives programme to further enhance economic impact, boost productivity, and improve energy efficiency of manufacturers in the Emirate.

The Energy Tariff Incentive Programme 2.0 (ETIP 2.0) aims to support the industrial sector by offering preferential rates for gas and electricity, based on eligibility criteria that include economic impact, Emiratisation rate, and energy management efficiency.

ETIP 2.0 is an expansion of Electricity Tariff Incentive Programme, launched by ADDED’s Industrial Department Bureau (IDB) in 2019. Manufacturing entities earned (ETIP) certificates reached 55, with a total investment of AED24 billion, and the number of new joiners continues to grow especially as the programme was extended to include SMEs. The programme helped industrial facilities to increase productivity by 15 percent. Expanding the programme to include gas tariff will also reduce operations expenses.

It is a result of discussions with manufactures in the Emirate to meet their demands in providing competitive energy rates. Noteworthy, the annual consumption of gas by industrial sector is around 18.5 MMBTU.

ETIP 2.0 will offer gas and electricity to manufacturing entities with subsidised rates.

Manufacturing entities applying for energy incentives programme need to meet a set of criteria including economic impact, which will be measured by investments, rate of Emiratisation and highly skilled employees in industrial facilities’ workforce, and contribution to local value chain and logistics. In addition, they should demonstrate efficient energy management, high level of productivity, and remarkable role in creating new jobs.

Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED, said, “The Abu Dhabi industrial strategy has set ambitious objectives in its pursuit to establish the Emirate as the most competitive industrial hub in the region. To this end, we are rolling out initiatives to further enhance the manufacturing sector’s attractiveness to local, regional, and international investors by continuous enhancement of business ecosystem.”

“Our energy incentives programme is taking a new depth in order to address new realities in energy markets and industrial sector. Enhancing efficiency of energy consumption will support the industrial sector to increase its contribution to the GDP as we target to more than double it to AED172 billion by 2031. This programme also accentuates our transition towards a circular, smart, and sustainable economy as well as other pillars and transformational programmes of the industrial strategy including talent development- a top priority for us,” Al Shorafa added.

Recently, ADDED has launched land incentives programme, which offers long term lease contracts with rates as low as AED5 per square metre to promote manufacturers’ growth and development by enhancing capital expenditures and cash-flow management.

Source: WAM - Lina Ibrahim/ Amjad Saleh

Aldar Properties PJSC (Aldar) has committed to investing AED 25 million for energy retrofit projects in 13 of its residential communities that will reduce utility consumption for owners and tenants as part of the company’s efforts to make its communities more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The investment by Aldar will offset 19,000 tCO2 per year and reduce utility consumption by a total of AED 12 million per year across the 13 communities. The plan was developed in conjunction with the owners’ associations of the communities, which are managed by Provis, Aldar’s real estate property management company. Grfn is acting as the Energy Project Management Company, while Siemens will carry out the retrofit project.

The company’s investment into its communities is the first-of-its kind by an Abu Dhabi developer and incremental to the ambitious portfolio-wide energy management project that was announced in early 2022. The project will enhance efficiency across a range of Aldar hotels, schools, commercial, leisure, retail, and residential buildings.

Commenting on the launch of the project, Greg Fewer, Aldar’s Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer, said, “The commitment we have made to reduce the energy consumption of our residential communities reflects the pioneering role we have taken in the region’s real estate sector to reduce our carbon footprint. This project is special as its innovative structure enables significant capital investment into community assets while reducing energy consumption, carbon footprint, and community service charges at the same time. We're proud of our team's ability to plan and execute real win-win solutions that move our industry forward and add tangible value to owners within Aldar managed communities.”

Provis’ Chief Executive Officer, HP Aengaar, added, “Provis continuously introduces and implements innovative technologies and sustainability driven initiatives that result in the reduction of our managed communities’ carbon footprint and energy consumption. Aldar's new pledge will enable us to further increase our investment in high-impact solutions and modernisation programmes centred around sustainability and the environment. It will also allow us to continue building on previous achievements and enhance the overall real estate experience for investors, owners, and tenants.”

Aldar’s wider energy management initiative announced in January is expected to cut consumption by 20% and support the company’s efforts to align its sustainability practices with the UAE’s long-term carbon reduction targets. The retrofit project is a key milestone in the company-wide decarbonisation journey towards net-zero - it will decrease carbon emissions by 80,000 tonnes, electricity consumption by 110 GWh, water consumption by 886,000 m3, chilled water consumption by 23,000,000 TRH, and gas consumption by 726,000 m3 on a yearly basis.

Enhancing the capabilities of its four-square-kilometre integrated waste management complex, BEEAH Recycling, the pioneering waste processing and material recovery business under BEEAH Group, has launched a new recycling facility.

The Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste recycling facility is the tenth and latest addition to BEEAH Recycling’s Waste Management complex, which is aiming to help Sharjah achieve 100 per cent landfill waste diversion this year.

The C&I recycling facility is the first of its kind in the region, with a robotics and AI system that automatically detects, identifies and separates different types of waste. It will supplement the waste processing efforts at BEEAH Recycling’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF), which is the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East and the third largest in the world.

Previously, the MRF was the primary location for the separation of mixed recyclables in BEEAH Recycling’s Waste Management Complex. With the addition of the AI and Robotics-enabled C&I recycling facility, BEEAH Recycling is set to enhance efficiency of material recovery and increase landfill waste diversion.

Sharing his insights on the impact of the C&I facility, Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said, “We are proud of the latest development at BEEAH Recycling, which aligns with our Group’s vision to pioneer a sustainable quality of life for all. We believe that achieving zero waste to landfill future is a cornerstone for tomorrow’s sustainable, smart cities, and we look forward to achieving this goal for Sharjah. By employing future technologies and AI vision to optimise material recovery, we are accelerating towards zero-waste targets and creating positive impact for society, the environment, and the circular economy.” Speaking about the recycling facility, Daker El-Rabaya, CEO of BEEAH Recycling, said, “With the use of robotics and AI, the C&I facility processes waste and recovers material from mixed recyclables faster and more effectively for reintroduction into the economy. Not only are we enhancing the capabilities of our integrated complex, but we are setting a new benchmark on how valuable material can be recovered from waste in a way that saves time, labour and cost.”

El-Rabaya highlighted that over ten different types of material will be recovered from the C&I recycling facility, including Aluminium, HDPE, plastic car parts, wood, tyre, PET, polypropylene containers and sacks, paper and carton, metals and mix film. Commercial residue from the C&I recycling facility will be sent to the nearby Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) facility, which was launched by BEEAH Recycling last month. At the SRF, the commercial residue will be transformed into alternative green fuel.

“Combining our new C&I facility with the SRF facility, we have demonstrated that integrated waste processing can drive our goals of sending zero waste to landfill for the first time in the Middle East. At the same time, we are generating value two-fold; from recovered materials and waste-derived fuels,” El-Rabaya added.

At full operational capacity, the C&I recycling facility will process around 156,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables per year, translating to about 500 tonnes of waste per day.

This level of productivity is supported by the facility’s integrated AI and robotics system, which recognises, sorts, and produces bales of plastics, paper, aluminium, light and oversized residue, as well as other materials. With robotics and AI vision, the system sets a global benchmark for automatic recovery of recyclables. Thus far, Sharjah has recorded a 76 per cent waste diversion rate with the support of BEEAH Recycling’s award-winning waste management complex.

The C&I and SRF facilities add to eight other waste processing facilities in BEEAH Recycling’s waste management complex, including the Material Recovery Facility for mixed recyclables, the Metal Recycling Centre for cars and automobiles, the Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plant for industrial wastewater, the Construction and Demolition Waste facility for debris from construction sites, the Biomass facility for cellulose and carbon-based waste, the Alternative Raw Material facility for marine debris, effluents and oil spills, the Tyre Recycling facility for old tyres, and the Medical Waste Processing facility for biohazardous medical waste. Now, with a total of 10 facilities in its waste management complex, BEEAH Recycling is set to steadily the increase landfill waste diversion rate in the emirate of Sharjah and achieve 100 per cent landfill waste diversion by the end of 2022, making it the first city to achieve zero waste to landfill in the Middle East.

BEEAH Recycling added recently a new Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) facility to its state-of-the-art, integrated waste management complex in Al Sajaa, Sharjah.

The SRF facility will transform commercial residue waste into a high-quality alternative green fuel in cement factories, where the fuel will be injected into the kilns during production.

As part of its future vision for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has set an aspirational, long-term target to achieve zero consumption of single-use plastics, while generating zero waste and zero carbon emissions, with zero impact on biodiversity through its ‘Mission to Zero’ public outreach campaign.

The Agency has taken already taken positive steps forward for it ‘Mission to Zero’ initiative for single-use plastic. This will include a campaign with various offline and online activations targeting all community members, government departments and businesses, retailers, restaurants, and youth. The goal is to encourage Abu Dhabi residents to shift to sustainable environmental alternatives such as reusable items to reduce the reliance on single-use items and minimise waste.

The main stakeholders targeted by the Agency are retailers, food catering outlets, restaurants, small grocery stores as well as government entities and private sector industries. Their role involves developing initiatives to reduce consumption of single-use plastic items. The general public is urged to spread the campaign’s messages among their social circles and adopt environmentally sustainable practices, in a bid to reach to the zero-use target.

The Agency has launched a ‘Mission to Zero’ communications programme, which includes social media, media, workshops, online and offline activations, as well as awareness outreach via the Green Business Network and the EAD-led Sustainable Schools and Campus Initiatives.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director, Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Management at EAD, said, “Within our vision for achieving sustainable goals for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, we are always striving to devise ambitious and challenging solutions in our attempt to create real change. ‘Mission to Zero’, within its larger context, is a framework through which we hope to reduce single-use plastic, waste, carbon emissions and any impact on our species and habitats.

“As part of this bigger picture, one of our significant goals for Abu Dhabi Emirate is to drastically reduce the use of single-use plastic items, and, in support of this aim, we launched an integrated policy in 2020. Following this, we began our ban on single-use plastic bags on June 1st and, to complement this ambitious initiative, we have devised a ‘Mission to Zero’ public facing campaign to inspire the general public to shift towards the consumption of more environmentally-friendly products that can be reused, instead of depending on single-use plastic.

“Mission to Zero’ is a collaborative effort with other stakeholders under one campaign umbrella to amplify results and help us achieve one common goal. At the heart of what we do is our larger community of businesses and individuals who are critical and significant players in our path to success. ‘Mission to Zero’ is a focused and ambitious objective that will help raise the bar when reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, and our success depends on the whole community working together.”

He added, “This is a long-term campaign that will involve the use of creative messaging and tools to promote a shift towards reusable goods, fostering a positive mindset that naturally leans towards eco-friendly alternatives across all sectors. We want everyone in Abu Dhabi to know about Mission to Zero and to be part of this movement by taking small steps every day to instigate change.”

To date the ‘Mission to Zero’ single-use plastic component has gained the support of several retailers and witnessed the single-use plastic bag ban. For example, on May 23rd a group of senior executives from major retail outlets in the emirate of Abu Dhabi signed a voluntary declaration, committing to support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy. The leading brands included: Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society and Spar, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Spinneys, and Waitrose.

June 1st of this year marked the beginning of the implementation of the single-use plastic bag ban in Abu Dhabi. Retailers are offering reusable bags as substitute to single-use plastic.

Source: WAM: Amjad Saleh/ Lina Ibrahim

SirajPower has announced the successful deployment of rooftop solar panels at Kings’ School Al Barsha. The firm said the project is expected to eliminate approximately 1.924 metric tons of carbon dioxide (Co2) annually or the equivalent of charging 234,066,133 smartphones.

According to a statement, the project is in line with Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy and the nation’s sustainability goals to increase Dubai’s energy mix to 75% clean and renewable by 2050. The UAE has highlighted education as one of the government’s key priorities as it strives to develop its human capital and create a diversified knowledge-based economy.

As part of SirajPower’s commitment to the nation’s initiatives, the partnership with the school aims to empower youth and raise sustainability awareness in the UAE. Kings School is a British curriculum school for both primary and secondary school students, the statement said.

4,921 solar panels with a capacity of 1.9MWp were installed at the school in four months, well ahead of schedule, the firm said. In addition to reducing carbon footprint, SirajPower’s fully financed solar solutions allow educational institutions, such as Kings’ School Al Barsha, to contribute to fight climate change, it added.

Laurent Longuet, CEO at SirajPower said, “Celebrating another major milestone in our goal to reduce the UAE’s carbon emissions, we are pleased to announce the completion of the installation of the rooftop solar panels at Kings’ School Al Barsha. In addition to allowing SirajPower to continue to expand its portfolio, this initiative reaffirms our commitment to empowering youth and promoting environmental awareness among the UAE’s future generation.”

He added, “In keeping with the UAE’s vision, this project has demonstrated the importance of integrating sustainable energy into education for future generations, providing students, parents, teachers, and the surrounding community with limitless opportunities to learn about sustainability. This solar rooftop project will provide a clean source of power for the school’s community. King’s School Al Barsha is one of many educational projects we manage, and we continue to see an increase in interest from UAE schools looking to transition to solar power.”

As part of the 20-year agreement, SirajPower will manage the ongoing performance, maintenance, and cleaning of the solar energy system, allowing Kings’ School Al Barsha to benefit from green credentials, and deliver a real-life educational experience to its students. By generating its own clean and renewable energy, the school will maintain greater energy independence and combat climate change, the statement added.

“With the newly installed solar panels, the students at Kings’ School will not just be taught about solar systems in class but will also have access to a real-life demonstration and application of sustainable methods on school grounds. The on-site functional solar panel display and experience can help them further their understanding of solar energy and serves as an in-house renewable living laboratory for students,” continued Longuet.

Akshay Khanna, Director of Kings’ Corporate, added that the project is more than just a marketing gimmick. He stressed that it would encourage students to consider how they may enhance their communities.

“Being green at Kings’ School Al Barsha means we make intentional and innovative efforts to reduce our environmental imprint and use resources as efficiently as possible to inspire future generations. This is why we are delighted to be collaborating with SirajPower to use solar energy to power our facilities,” Khanna pointed out.

With other projects in the pipeline to enable the UAE’s vision of becoming carbon-negative by 2050 and as part of this expansion strategy, SirajPower plans to install, commission, maintain, and operate many other Kings’ School facilities in Dubai.

New plant houses the temporary assembly line, which has a maximum production capacity of 10,000 cars per year.

M Glory Holding Group and Dubai Industrial City, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, announce the opening of Al Damani’s new 45,000-sqft factory, which represents a major milestone in the manufacturing of electric cars to meet a rising demand for green mobility to reduce global carbon emissions.

The new plant houses the temporary assembly line, which has a maximum production capacity of 10,000 cars per year.

The factory’s groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Dr. Majida Al-Azazi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of M Glory Holding Group, and Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Executive Vice President - Industrial Leasing at TECOM Group PJSC, along with other top business leaders and media representatives.

On behalf of Dubai Industrial City, Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial Leasing at TECOM Group PJSC, said: "We are delighted to announce the inauguration of Al Damani Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Factory in Dubai Industrial City.

This historic milestone will provide another low-emission energy source and contribute to creating a more sustainable future for the UAE and the region.

By delivering cutting-edge, technologically supported solutions in line with Operation 300bn and driven by our partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the manufacturing sector can play a crucial role in supporting the national net zero strategy.

The opening of M Glory in our community illustrates our dedication to boosting the manufacturing sector and our belief in providing a comprehensive ecosystem that enables regional manufacturers like M Glory to establish businesses and further the "Make it in the Emirates" initiative.”

As a member of the TECOM Group PJSC, Dubai Industrial City is one of the most prominent industrial and logistics hubs in the region, home to international, regional, and local manufacturing giants in a wide range of strategic sectors.

It greatly contributes to the achievement of several national strategies, such as Operations 300bn.

Dr. Majida Al-Azazi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of M Glory Holding Group, said: "Today marks the official opening of the Damani Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Factory, the first and only facility of its kind in the UAE to meet international specifications where we will manufacture environmentally-friendly electric cars, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable development."

Dr. Al Azazi added: "This temporary plant for the production of electric vehicles is located on the a million square feet oasis and will be used until the sustainable and comprehensive facility in Dubai Industrial City is completed; it will be operational in the next two years and have a production capacity of 55,000 electric cars yearly.”

She continued that due to the cars’ compatibility with the environment and atmosphere of the Gulf area, they will be competitive and durable, offering qualitative addition to the electric car sector.

Dr. Al-Azazi highlighted that the 50 principles announced by the UAE government contributed greatly to the country’s industrial sector, which is experiencing a wonderful revival.

Such vision has hastened the sector's development by boosting national industrial institutions and companies, enhancing their operations, and creating new markets that have allowed them to expand on a global level.

She concluded, "I appreciate the assistance and facilities offered by Dubai Industrial City to launch this first industrial facility of its kind in the Middle East, as it offers the ideal ecosystem for launching and developing our goals and future expansion plans."

ABU DHABI, 3rd October, 2022 (WAM) -- Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer) announced that it has produced more than 1 million tonnes of products recycled from waste materials collected in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi during the first half of 2022. This comes in line with Abu Dhabi’s strategy to promote sound waste management and recycling, and its aim to convert waste into environment-friendly products that contribute to the local economy. 

During the first half of 2022, the Centre successfully produced around 14,000 tonnes of fertilizer, including plant, animal, mixed, and poultry manure, resulting from recycling green and animal waste. This is in addition to producing more than 1 million tonnes of various sized gravel by recycling demolition and construction waste and producing around 26,000 tonnes of rubber products resulting from recycling tires, all as part of the Centre’s efforts to achieve sustainability.

Abdul Mohsin Al Katheeri, Director of Projects and Facilities at Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer), said, “Since its establishment, the Centre has adopted a comprehensive approach to achieving environmental sustainability by developing an integrated plan for waste management and recycling. This commitment is supported by many programs and initiatives that aim to deal with all types of waste, reduce its amount, reuse it, and encourage the community and organizations to use recycled materials, while taking advantage of the capabilities and advantages that Abu Dhabi enjoys that make it a thriving hub for innovative sustainability solutions.”

“The Centre will continue its efforts to enhance the integrated waste management system of the Emirate and adopt the best solutions and the latest technologies for waste management as part of our aim to convert waste into products that can be used in various sectors. This will empower us to realise the UAE’s ambitions to achieve a circular economy,” he added.

As part of its commitment to providing the best waste collection and transportation services in accordance with the highest international standards, Tadweer distributes containers and provides collection and transportation services for waste of various shapes and sizes throughout the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This includes residential areas, commercial and industrial areas, roads and streets, parks, mosques, government departments, health and education centres, construction sites, government sanctioned slaughterhouses, public markets, farms, and estates, with the waste being transported to specialised facilities for processing and recycling.

The Centre recycled products amounting to 23 percent of the total waste collected in the specialised facilities during the first half of 2022. 

As part of the Centre’s efforts to recycle and treat waste, recycled gravel was used in vital national projects such as road pavements, and different rubber products were used as safety floors and rubber tiles for sidewalks in several sectors, including the public sector, the sports sector, the education sector, and landscaping.

Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE's pioneering global award for recognising excellence in sustainability, has empowered India-based startup Science for Society (S4S) Technologies to further help farmers and rural women cut down food waste and increase income.

Established in 2008, S4S Technologies recognised that a significant amount of farmers' produce goes to waste because they lack the means to preserve their harvest, do not have the experience to sell it on a wider scale, and lack technical knowledge of modern agricultural practices. To address this challenge, the startup created a novel solution – a solar food dehydrator – to convert food waste into non-perishable food ingredients that can be sold.

"What brought us together was solving the challenges of food wastage, poverty among smallholder farmers and gender inequality among rural women farmers," co-founder Nidhi Pant said while marking the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

Using patented solar conduction dryer technology, farmers could avoid food waste and create a new revenue stream. The technology is electricity-free, delivering sustainable results while avoiding the problems caused by long power cuts.

The company's technology currently saves approximately 22,500 tonnes of produce from getting wasted each year, and avoids 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

"We started by providing technology solutions to farmers to reduce food wastage, but soon realised they are not marketers. Providing market linkage along with technology is necessary to integrate buyback of the processed produce," Pant noted.

PRIZE IMPACTS S4S PROJECTS

Earlier this year, S4S Technologies won the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the 'food' category and received $600,000 to expand the scope and scale of their sustainability solution.

While the startup has received several awards for its environmentally-friendly solutions, winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize has significantly impacted its projects.

"Support from the Zayed Sustainability Prize has helped us expand our farmer-base to include 60,000 smallholder farmers and 1,200 female micro-entrepreneurs. It also helped us strengthen our value chain and farmers' awareness, training, and capacity-building," Pant underlined.

The SME also digitalised its value chain after receiving a $600,000 cash prize. Digital tools have meant better pricing and more guidance on quality standards. And after receiving the Prize fund, S4S Technologies has expanded its product portfolio beyond fruit and vegetables, to pulses, grains, spices, and coconuts.

EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN

According to official data from the Indian government, rural women workforce in agriculture stands at 33 per cent. S4S Technologies keeps women at the centre of its operations and creates opportunities for them. One example of the company's success is Chayya, a young woman from a remote village on the outskirts of Aurangabad in Maharashtra state, who suffered from a physical disability. She worked hard as a farm labourer, yet her life was difficult and her income barely sufficient.

When S4S Technologies started recruiting local women in her village to work on a food-saving initiative, Chayya's life quickly turned around. She received a better income, higher work standards and gained more dignity in her work and greater respect from society. And seeing her flourish encouraged other village women to join the produce processing work.

"Since I started this journey, the most profound moments have been how our intervention has transformed the lives of our women entrepreneurs. I feel content when I see how our entrepreneurs have become better decision-makers – both at household and community level. With increased income, they can support education for their daughters and no longer need loans from unscrupulous loan-sharks to support the children and elderly," Pant said. "In the next five years, we aim to enable 10,000 more women to become micro-entrepreneurs and increase their profit by 50 to 200 per cent, and to work with three million farmers in reducing post-harvest losses and provide adequate market linkage."

The company aims to save up to 175,000 tonnes of food each year and prevent 1.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

"This can be done by preventing food wastage, minimal logistics, and switching to clean energy for food processing. If we stopped wasting food, we could cut global emissions by 8 per cent, free up land and resources, and save enough food to feed two billion hungry people," Pant added.

Source:Zawya

The recycling facility is a regional first, boosting landfill waste diversion in Sharjah while helping lower carbon emissions

BEEAH Recycling, the pioneering waste processing and material recovery business under BEEAH Group, has added a new Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) facility to its state-of-the-art, integrated waste management complex in Al Sajaa, Sharjah.

The SRF facility will transform commercial residue waste into a high quality alternative green fuel in cement factories, where the fuel will be injected into the kilns during production. The SRF facility is among ten other recycling facilities managed and operated by BEEAH Recycling that have so far contributed to a 76% landfill waste diversion in the emirate, the highest in the Middle East. The addition of the SRF facility is expected to help further increase landfill waste diversion in Sharjah.

Speaking about the new facility, Daker El-Rabaya, CEO of BEEAH Recycling, said: “This recycling facility realised the twin benefit of reducing carbon emissions for the cement production industry, while further increasing the rate of landfill waste diversion. It is a huge leap forward for our recycling business, which has been focused on working towards a circular economy and zero-waste to landfill. Now, we are furthering our impact by producing specialised green, alternative fuels.”

“BEEAH Recycling has always aimed to set a new standard for integrated zero waste solutions, pioneering recovery of valuable material from virtually all types of waste in the region. Through advanced recycling techniques, we are shaping a circular economy and demonstrating that it is not only environmentally beneficial but also financially viable. The SRF facility follows a purely commercial model that is fully independent of gate fees,” El-Rabaya added.

The SRF Facility’s waste processing model is the first of its kind in the region. It produces an alternative green fuel that is high-value, low moisture and low in chlorine content, which is a more sustainable and lower emissions alternative to coal that is typically used in cement production. The SRF facility currently has a production capacity of 85,000 tonnes of alternative green fuel every year, which amounts to 250 tonnes per day. Sharjah Cement, which is located close to BEEAH Recycling’s Waste Management Complex, has entered an agreement to receive 73,000 tonnes of alternative green fuel from the SRF facility every year.

Pravinchandra Batavia, CEO of Sharjah Cement, said, “We are excited to enter this agreement with BEEAH Recycling. By using this high-efficiency green alternative to coal, we will be able to meet production targets effectively, and move closer to our sustainability goals while supporting a circular economy and contributing to lower emissions.”

Prior to beginning operations, the SRF facility underwent hundreds of tests over two years. Using residue from commercial waste and other BEEAH Recycling facilities, the SRF has already produced hundreds of tonnes of alternative green fuel for trial firing. Tests were also conducted at various international laboratories to verify viability and quality standards.

The SRF facility adds to BEEAH Recycling’s existing portfolio of waste processing and material recovery facilities. BEEAH Recycling currently manages and operates the world’s third largest Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in the world, a Biomass Facility that turns carbon and cellulose-based waste into fuel for cement factories and paper mills, an Alternative Raw Material (ARM) that processes maritime-related waste, including hazardous effluents, oil spills and ship wreckage, a Metal Recycling Centre (MRC) that isolates metal, plastic and glass from old cars for use in steel mills, and a Tyre Recycling Facility (TRF) that produces a variety of rubber products from old tyres. BEEAH Recycling has also specialised in processing several types of industrial waste. The Commercial and Demolition Waste (CDW) facility produces curb stones and aggregates from highly contaminated construction debris. It also has an Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWWTP), which recovers clean, irrigation-safe water from 350 m³ of industrial wastewater every day. Additionally, BEEAH Recycling has a specialised medical waste treatment facility through Wekaya, a joint venture with Green Planet and in partnership with public entities.

The SRF facility is BEEAH Recycling’s latest effort to minimise waste being diverted to landfill, contribute to the circular economy, and produce lower emission, waste derived alternative fuels. By continually enhancing its waste processing facilities and diversifying into waste derived fuels, BEEAH Recycling is realising zero waste to landfill and creating a sustainable, circular economy model in the UAE, the region, and beyond.

Source: Beeah Group

Deliveroo has launched an initiative to introduce ‘responsible rider kit disposal’ to support their commitment to reducing waste in landfills. The award-winning delivery service has partnered with UAE-based, licensed recycler, Shredex to implement a green solution which is both eco-friendly and socially responsible. By leveraging Shredex’s state-of-the-art technology, Deliveroo’s initiative is in line with Dubai’s strategic plan for waste management to reduce and completely divert waste from landfill by 2030.  

The newly launched recycling initiative by Deliveroo in partnership with Shredex will guarantee that used rider kits are responsibly disposed of to eliminate the potential spread of any underlying health concerns. The initiative also aims to ensure that used kits are not exploited for misrepresentation of the brand in activities that do not align with its values. 

The ‘responsible rider kit disposal’ initiative comes at the back of Deliveroo looking to gain further visibility on the after-life of used rider kits.  Ensuring used rider kits do not damage the environment through improper waste disposal, quarterly collections and disposals have been scheduled with Shredex. The by-products of Deliveroo’s used rider kits will be repurposed into sustainable reusable materials. Upon collection, the items will be segregated into the categories of recyclable plastic and fabric waste which will be combusted. Certain by-products will also be used as resources to turn metals into ingots, textiles and leather into cushion fillers or refuse derived fuel (RDF) materials, and rubber will be used as resins for asphalts for both road works and building new tyres. 

Yazan Aburaqabeh, Head of Operations at Deliveroo said, “Our plan to recycle used rider kits has been in the pipeline for a while with strong efforts to bring not just any solution but one that is sustainable. We’re proud to be launching our initiative in partnership with Shredex, a credible partner, to extend the most eco-friendly solution to used rider kits. Deliveroo has and will continue to contribute to the global sustainability movement that the UAE is championing.” 

Anis El Solh, Managing Director of Shredex said, “We are honoured to be partnering with Deliveroo and helping them take another step towards a greener UAE. Partnerships like these that allow us to make a noteworthy difference, fuel our drive to continue our efforts in helping Dubai achieve its goal for waste management to reduce and completely divert waste from landfills by 2030.”

Deliveroo’s initiative to responsibly dispose of used rider kits will support the UAE’s vision to divert waste from landfills and build a sustainable environment for the residents of the nation. 

Source: Press release