The UAE?s ambitious waste diversion goals can be achieved if more businesses make waste management a top priority within their organisations and adopt the best international practices
Industry experts explained this during a workshop hosted at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The workshop, organised by member companies of the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network?s Task Force on Waste Management, called for the widespread adoption of integrated waste management strategies within the business community with the aim of helping the UAE meet its target of diverting 75 per cent of all municipal solid waste away from landfills by 2021, as outlined in the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021.
During the workshop, Dubai Municipality representatives said integrated waste management should be a strategic and well-planned approach that controls waste generation, promotes source segregation and collection. The presentation by the government entity outlined various waste minimisation practices used by the Dubai Municipality to remove waste from landfills by 2030 and highlighted the benefits of using smart bin management and waste exchange systems.
According to Dulsco, the best way to manage waste is also to identify the different categories of waste produced, the quantum of waste produced, various recycling units and how each category with the available quantity can be transported to the recycling unit.
Averda?s presentation emphasised the importance of the human factor in contributing to waste management, noting that more should be done to encourage employees and customers to change their behaviour towards waste.
Enviroserve highlighted that it is important to identify the e-waste, and reuse, recover and recycle it for effective management. E-waste contains harmful chemicals like lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic that should be prevented from going to the landfill. On the other hand, electronic waste also contains many useful metals like copper, brass, aluminium, gold and silver that can be easily recovered and recycled to make useful products, the presentation noted.
Presentations from Farnek and Dgrade stressed the importance of adopting a transparent system of waste collection and management.
Established by the Chamber?s Centre for Responsible Business, the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network serves as the focal point for the business community to share and exchange best practices in the implementation of CSR
