Be’ah issues prequalification invitation for e-waste treatment facility in Oman

Be’ah has issued a prequalification invitation for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) development and operation treatment facility.

Be’ah stated that it is looking for an established company or consortium to develop a WEEE treatment facility. “The company or consortium should demonstrate its operating experience using the best available waste management technology with least environmental impact and high commercial return,” it said.

After prequalification process, the companies shortlisted will be invited to participate in the request for proposal (RFP).

As electrical and electronic products, including TVs, mobile phones, e-toys, PCs, digital cameras and pervasive computing are rapidly devalued and become waste due to fast update and built-in obsolescence, the WEEE stream has become a major challenge for the waste management industry.

“You have so much waste that needs proper treatment. There are a number of scrap dealers processing this waste. However, the scrap dealers are not handling this waste in the best manner. Be’ah is currently working on setting up a WEEE dismantling facility in Sohar to manage this waste,” an official at Be’ah had told Muscat Daily previously. In 2012, Be’ah completed feasibility studies on Electronic Waste Management Plan.

According to a Step (a global initiative on e-waste) report, ewaste is now the world’s fastest growing waste stream. Per citizen, Oman produces 17kg of ewaste every year, generating 69,800 tonnes in 2015. China generates 6.1mn tonnes of ewaste annually only second to the US at 7.2mn tonnes.

According to a report by Ithraa, Oman generates more than 1.7mn tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) every year.