Dubai unveils new environmental policy to enhance recycling rates

By Anju T K, Intern Reporter
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Dubai has unveiled a new environmental policy to enhance recycling rates, meet global emissions and sustainability standards, and contribute to the Emirate’s objective of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030.

Dubai Municipality has put in place steps to improve trash management across the Emirate and encourage companies to participate. The initiative is part of a Dubai Executive Council resolution on garbage disposal that will take effect in January.

Mr. Abdul Majeed Saifai, director of waste management at Dubai Municipality stated that “Apart from promoting sustainability, the Executive Council resolution aims to efficiently regulate the waste management sector in the emirate and reduce its carbon footprint, while adding that to encouraging private sector investment, the resolution allows recycling facilities to impose charges on the waste they receive and treat in their facilities, thus enabling them to cover a large part of their operational costs and raise the economic feasibility of investing in this field”.

The eco-sustainable blueprint will urge all garbage producers, whether they are businesses, hotels, shopping malls, or others, to separate recyclable items from waste-producing locations.

Dubai Municipality plays a significant role in safeguarding and maintaining the environment, as well as fulfilling the Dubai Waste Management Strategy 2030 and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2030.

Presently there are six dump sites in Dubai totaling 1.6 million square meters. The increased volume of garbage predicted from the Emirate’s economic and demographic expansion would expand the space assigned to landfills to 5.8 million square meters by 2041 if no remedial measures were taken.

The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated that merchants must provide a collection box for discarded devices, batteries, and other electronic waste as a matter of law.

Furthermore, The government also issued a set of guidelines for waste management organizations, including how to properly dispose of hazardous garbage and wastewater.

Related: Dubai-based Averda to handle waste management facility of Saudi Red Sea project

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