Abu Dhabi aims high, to divert 90% from landfills to recycling

ABU DHABI, UAE (Scrap Monster): Abu Dhabi plans to divert 90% of the 10 mn tonnes of waste generated from moving to landfills to recycling. The target has been set by the Centre of Waste Management. Presently, the waste generated fills 1800 hectares of land for landfills.

Abu Dhabi generates 33,000 tonnes of waste per day and the per capita waste generation is 1.8 to 2 kilograms per day.

According to the centre, the dump and landfill sites, which are located throughout the emirate have received a mix of waste streams, including municipal, construction and demolition, clinical, hazardous, industrial and commercial wastes, for more than 20 years. The centre is introducing new controlled management processes at existing dump and landfill sites throughout the emirate. The investigation and characterisation of these sites are the first stage in producing definitive recommendations for the closure of the sites. More than 30 old dump and landfill sites have been identified for which rehabilitation services may be required.