Re-cycle of life

Pioneer: Dubai Recycling Park CEO Musaed Al-Saleh.

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Mess: The region is a massive waste producer.

The Middle East has been slow to respond to the challenge of climate change, but Dubai is leading the way with a venture unique to the region — Dubai Recycling Park (DRP).

National Projects Holding Co. (NPHC), a subsidiary of the National Real Estate Co. of Kuwait, has signed an agreement with Dubai Industrial City (DIC), a subsidiary of Tatweer, to establish the first fully integrated waste management and recycling park in the Middle East.

“To be frank, it is as much an investment decision as it is a social responsibility decision,” says Musaed Al-Saleh, vice chairman and CEO of NPHC. “It is a profitable business model abroad,” he continues.

“However, when you try to adapt it to the Middle East, laws and regulations, are not currently in place to assist you, and to make it as profitable as it should be.

“For instance in Europe and the West tipping fees exist — they don’t here,” adds Al-Saleh. “Licences are available for certain types of recycling, but not all types. So as legislation progresses, profitability should go up.”

DRP will be developed on a site measuring 1,500,000 sq ft with a 49-year lease agreement with Dubai Industrial City, and a capital investment of up to US$150m. Construction is planned to commence in mid-2007 and will be completed within 18 months.

“The government, generally speaking, should privatise waste management and recycling,” urges Al-Saleh.

“There’s quite a bit of a learning curve that needs to take place on this issue, and no one entity — be it the business sector or the governmental sector — should place obstacles in front of the other in terms of trying to solve the global warming issue.

“The business community should come under pressure to tackle global warming, and there should be different taxes and different legislation for different types of industries,” he continues. “There should be incentives for companies to reduce the waste they produce, as the volumes of waste are tremendous in this region. For example there’s nowhere to recycle newspapers — you read five or six newspapers a day and it’s just being wasted on a daily basis.”

It is estimated that approximately 120 million tonnes of waste is currently produced in the GCC countries. 60% is from Saudi Arabia, 20% from the UAE and the rest is from Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. Of the 120 million tonnes of waste, 55% is estimated to be construction and demolition waste, 20% municipal waste, 18% industrial waste and 7% hazardous waste.

Dubai is estimated to have the highest waste per capita production in the GCC, equating to an emirate total of 9.4 million tonnes per year, or 35% of the waste produced in the UAE. Waste production in Dubai is expected to increase from 10 million tonnes in 2004 to over 20 million tonnes by 2010.

“This may sound controversial, but it’s a fact that the Middle East has neglected [its environmental responsibilities],” argues Al-Saleh. “Countries in the region are all in the top 10 in the world in terms of waste production per capita. In terms of socially responsible investments it has been neglected — it simply wasn’t on the agenda. People were too focused on the profits side rather than the social responsibility side.”

It seems, however, as though Dubai is the exception in the GCC. The emirate is no longer reacting to the growing requirement of waste management based on current demand, but has taken the initiative to plan ten years in advance. “As a company we’re trying to play a role not only in terms of business and profit, but also in terms of contributing to the community, to society, and I hope bigger and larger companies will try to do this elsewhere in the region,” says Al-Saleh. “We are definitely breaking new ground. I hope this catches on because there is so much waste in the region, that if you set up another 10 of these recycling parks, there would be enough business.

“Since announcing the project we have received interest from Saudi Arabia to do the same thing, and also Qatar,” he continues.

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USER COMMENTS (8 COMMENTS)

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Reduce Plastic
Posted by Sandhya Prakash, Dubai, UAE on 26 February 2007 at 20:55 UAE time


IAHV has just started a Reduce Plastic bags from Grocery stores campaign alongwith Dubai Municipality and the Choithram outlets. It would be great to have the support of the Recycling Park on such initiatives. Do write to juteup@gmail.com.

Recycling of Waste
Posted by Gloria Burler, Sharjah, UAE on 25 February 2007 at 16:49 UAE time


Here, it would be good if there were bins dedicated to different types of rubbish - paper, plastic, glass, and plant and wet waste. These could be situated below the buildings for convenience. The public, however have to take responsibility for recycling. The government has an educational responsibility but the practicality lies with the public, and the truth is although there are some people willing to recycle their garbage there are many too lazy to do so. It is easier to throw it on the pavement as is evidenced especially on the streets of Sharjah. Used furniture and old unwanted household items could be collected weekly and placed in a specific area where they could be sold for a nominal fee. Wet waste could be converted into organic compost which could be used for agricultural fertiliser. There should be special dumping areas for other kinds of waste like tyres and scrap metal( toxic waste already has one area. in this way we can clean up the emirates and help the environment at the same time

Recycling
Posted by Jasmine, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 25 February 2007 at 15:43 UAE time


Hi. Although it is a US website, you can always pickup tips how to contribute in small ways to reduce global warming: http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/

Recycling
Posted by Jasmine, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 25 February 2007 at 15:01 UAE time


For people in Sharjah who are saving used paper, you can leave it near Radisson-SAS hotel Sharjah. Proceed to the left of the car park in front of the hotel premises and you'll find an enclosure. The Sharjah Environmental Organization collects it from there.

re-cycling
Posted by maricarmen valerio, abu dhabi, uae on 23 February 2007 at 17:46 UAE time


I understood that in Abi Dhabi exits 16 collecting poiints for plastics, glass,etc but I could not find them yet. It´s crazy that nobody knows about recycling trash in this country, I used to recycled plastic items, bottles, etc. in my country. If somebody knows about that please advice me.

Recycling Life
Posted by Liz Cabel-Wagner, Cologne, Germany on 21 February 2007 at 12:54 UAE time


The idea is impressive and gives us peace of mind that we are 
going to have a healthy way of living. I believe however, that 
we should be working hard on it, people must have discipline and understand " healthy means of living". Since we are in a multi cultural country, educating others on this concept will not take a smooth and easy process. In Europe, we have disposals for plastic items, bottles and paper. They are not thrown out all together in one waste disposal.

SHOW ALL COMMENTS

Recyling
Posted by Benjamin, Dubai, UAE on 20 February 2007 at 22:55 UAE time


I am a concentitious citizen and would like to do my part to keep the environment clean and hazard free.To this end I would like to dispose off my household wastes properly by segregating it into organic waste, papers and cardboards , plastic and other categories. But unfortunately in Dubai we donot have such separate waste disposal bins and I would like to request authorities concerned to install such bins and then each community in Dubai can dispose off their wastes properly which can then be recycled easily and properly.

re-cycling plants
Posted by J Johnson, Dubai, UAE on 20 February 2007 at 14:16 UAE time


Re-cycling. At last. In the mean time,Where can I drop off glass bottles and jars. 
I know Ikea collects newspaper, so thats great. I'm in Deira

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