Capital plan to reuse 75% of waste by 2021

ABU DHABI // Eight recycling plants in the capital are focusing on recycling more than 60 per cent of waste by 2020 and 75 per cent by 2021.

Tadweer, the emirate’s centre of waste management, believes in a “circular economy”, which promotes resource recovery and includes activities such as waste diversion, reclamation, recycling and remanufacturing.

At present, Tadweer recycles more than 30 per cent of 797,466 tonnes of waste generated every month.

That allows it to give new life to rubbish.

Tadweer has recycling bins across Abu Dhabi and the materials collected are taken to a sorting unit in Al Ain, where they are sorted into different batches.

The plastic waste goes to the processing site, where it is turned into material ready for production, while the metal, paper and glass waste are sold to the market for other companies to recycle. Abu Dhabi has recycling plants for plastic products, used tyres, construction and demolition waste, and used engine oil.

It also has compost plants and other facilities to recycle animal waste, slaughterhouse waste and organic waste from households.

Recently, Tadweer announced a three- month campaign to raise awareness about recycling in Abu Dhabi’s western areas.

“We want people to get into the habit of recycling, to become used to separating the waste and to understand the connection between that action and the energy saved,” said Mahmoud Al Rais, a senior technical support officer at Tadweer.

Nayel Al Shamsi, a project manager at Tadweer, said the campaign was part of a series of initiatives to develop a sustainable waste management culture among Abu Dhabi residents.

“It is crucial to maintain the cleanliness of the emirate in line with Abu Dhabi Vision and Plan,” he said.