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Harnessing waste to sustainable energy gains steam in the Middle East | |
| Staff Writer |
An influx in the world’s demographic dividend means that waste management becomes a quintessential factor in the sustainability of the clean energy initiative. However, from treating waste in the most appropriate way to going forward and converting it into energy, the Emirates has come a long way.
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Sustainable waste management practices are an important part of the transition to a more circular economy. Waste management up until a few years ago was a necessity closely linked to hygiene and the prevention of health issues. Today waste management has metamorphosed into a new and viable method for waste management to energy.
According to Anita Nouri, popularly known as Queen of Garbage, “Bold steps need to be taken and legislation needs to be put into place. We need to disrupt the normal to create the innovation required to make the changes. All landfills need to be degassed and that gas can provide power to support the recycling facility or industry close to the landfill.”
Also, the overarching goal of waste management is to substantially reduce and even eliminate GHG emissions and minimise the release of fugitive emissions. Fugitive emissions are accidental emissions of vapours or gases from pressurised apparatus, either due to faulty equipment, leakage, or other unforeseen mishaps. These emissions are potentially hazardous especially if the facilities are closer to residential areas or even institutions like schools, companies etc.
Recently, Dubai took waste management a step further by launching a pilot phase to treat and recycle 50 to 80 percent of the waste of Dubai Metro and Tram stations. The project seeks to leverage Dubai’s environmental strategy, and boost the recycling rates while implementing the highest international standards of sustainability. This move is slated to make a marked difference to Dubai's efforts to achieve zero waste by 2030.
According to internal sources, "The Rail Agency is currently engaged in delivering a host of sustainability projects and initiatives in collaboration with Keolis-MHI, the operator of the Dubai Metro and Tram. These initiatives include paper recycling to match the digital transformation of Dubai Metro and Tram operations. In a record period, the agency managed to recycle about 8,622 tonnes of paper, equivalent to 146 trees."
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The end-of-life for waste items and articles can be also the re-genesis of something better and of value. This makes it crucial for the city to manage waste responsibly, so as to collaborate with stakeholders to find ways to create a new sustainable product together.
Given the Middle East’s infamy to be one of the highest waste-producing regions, community awareness, sustainable waste management practices, and effective legislation together can carve the way forward.
Qatar has a National Vision (QNV) 2030. QNV 2030 is organised into four pillars: human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development.
Balancing the interests of the current generation and the future generation lies at the core of this ambitious project. The efficacy however is yet to be ascertained because waste volumes are rising, where rapid urbanisation combined with societal issues around general wastefulness have made it a perennial issue and this needs to stop to ensure that the next generation does not suffer from the excesses of the present generation.
Given this backdrop, it becomes clear that every step forward in the department of waste management is a step towards the ‘net-zero’ goal.
No one could have put it better than Anita Nouri who says, Waste is inevitable: we live in wasteful society where everything is replaceable. If we can make life simpler and be a little thoughtful, the small changes multiplied can make an impactful difference.