BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 1 April 2010
THE emirate of Dubai
In order to curb the adverse environmental impact of the ever-increasing waste production in the city, the civic body has announced implementation of two significant projects.
"The collection of solid waste will be converted to underground operation in the city's major areas, while all the towers located on Sheikh Zayed Road
Hassan Makki, director of waste management department at the DM, said, "The city's densely populated regions such as Al Dhagaya, Naif and Satwa regions will be benefited with the latest techniques for the solid waste collection in underground areas."
"The major civic step to implement best waste management practices in the emirate will revolutionise recycling, landfill and incineration of solid waste generated in the city," he added.
Makki was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday to announce the Middle East Waste Summit 2010, which will be held from May 18 to 20 at the Palladium at Dubai Media City
"The civic body's waste management department has completed a detailed study on the major projects that could significantly contribute to the civic body's efforts for waste reduction and waste-to-energy (WTE) solutions in the emirate," he explained.
According to him, the Municipality will be conducting further studies on applying the highest standard solutions for the safe disposal and treatment of waste like landfills and incinerators.
"The challenges to find alternative methods of waste treatment, which is heavily dependent on the types of waste, are factors related to maintaining safety of the public health in a sustainable and safe environment," he noted.
"The Municipality will re-examine alternative waste management practices in the treatment and disposal methods, with the support of international experts, said Makki.
Salah Amiri, assistant director general for environment and public health services sector at the DM, said that the Middle East Waste Summit 2010 would definitely become a forum to find real solutions to the problems faced by the public and private sectors in the field of waste management.
"The environmental conference will call on the international community to interact and assume its responsibilities towards these problems and find practical solutions to environmentally sound disposal of waste in order to protect the environment for future generations," he added.
Amiri pointed out that recycling can make good environmental and economic sense given the right conditions. The increasingly important waste management option is recycling.
"The recycling of waste will conserve the natural resources, by saving energy in production and transport, reducing risks of pollution, and ultimately producing inexpensive goods," he noted.
According to him, the summit will not only find the right solutions for waste management but also provide a healthy and sustainable environment in Dubai
Chris Fountain, managing director of Turret-Middle East, said that the waste summit will discuss various issues related to waste and proper disposal methods, management, and recycling.
"It aims to invite the international community to assume its responsibilities in finding sustainable solutions in waste management and emphasise the importance of environmental protection," he added.
"Municipalities from across the region are being brought face-to-face with thousands of waste management experts and environmental organisations to share strategies, explore best practices and develop partnerships," explained Fountain.
"The opening ceremony, titled "Global Climate Change and Waste Industry," will be chaired by Mostafa Kamal Tolba, president of International Centre for Environment and Development and former executive director of United Nations Environment Programme. Over 100 business leaders will participate," he explained.
He added that this event is a quantum leap in the field, since it has attracted a large number of visitors interested in the environment and participants from all countries of the Middle East region and waste management specialists and representatives of government departments, municipalities, industry and education as well as several private companies involved in waste management.
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