Achieving Zero Waste Management

En route to Zero Waste Management

Due to our limited natural resources, including the lack of sources of sweet water and our humid climate, most of the consumer items used in the UAE are imported from other countries. Large amounts of waste are generated as a result of this.

Because there aren't many manufacturing sectors in the nation, most garbage that could be utilized as raw materials for various processes cannot be reused there. Therefore, this kind of waste is shipped to adjacent countries, separated, or ends up in a landfill.

Since each of the UAE's seven emirates is autonomous, each has its system for handling and recycling waste. The typical person in the UAE produces 2.7 kilograms of waste each day. That is almost twice as much as the waste produced by the average person in Europe.

Additionally, the UAE consumes 11 million plastic bags annually and ranks among the top countries in the world for per-capita plastic water bottle consumption. Fortunately, the UAE has started working towards achieving zero waste in the country.

The Waste Management Problem in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and How the Authorities are Looking to Solve It
The UAE lacks adequate infrastructure for recycling and composting. Therefore the great majority of the generated waste is still dumped in landfills. We urgently need to change how much waste we produce and how it is handled.

Currently, a large portion of the garbage produced in the UAE is dumped in landfills. Less than 35% of the waste produced in Abu Dhabi is presently composted or recycled, although officials are working to increase this percentage.

The zero waste initiative is a component of Abu Dhabi's Environmental Centennial 2071, a 50-year roadmap unveiled by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) in April during an online roundtable discussion on UAE's conservation efforts.

In addition to expanding recycling facilities and implementing a prohibition on single-use plastic bags, the EAD announced plans to gradually decrease the usage of single-use plastic items in the Emirate.

The waste problem is no different in Dubai. Currently, there are six dump sites in Dubai, totaling over 1.6 million square meters in size, and they receive about 75% of the waste generated in the United Arab Emirates.

Landfills are a significant issue due to growing environmental concerns. Dubai has developed a new ecological strategy to tackle the problem by introducing ways to increase recyclability, meet global carbon output and sustainability standards, and advance the Emirate toward its objective of transferring zero waste to landfills by 2030.

The Dubai Municipality took the initiative to improve waste management throughout the Emirate and motivate companies to contribute.

To establish a mindset of waste efficiency and safeguard the environment, the municipality will collaborate closely with business and industrial organizations, governmental organizations, and organizations from the private sector.

All waste producers—businesses, hotels, shopping malls, or others—will be required to separate recyclable items from waste production sites under the eco-friendly blueprint. The waste will subsequently be sent to recycling facilities rather than landfills, and payments for waste disposal will be incurred.

Color-coded recycling bins will also be implemented nationwide to improve efficiency. Additionally, authorities have been advising citizens to recycle wherever possible.

What Are the Steps to Follow to Achieve Zero Waste in the UAE  ?

A lot is being done at the government level to achieve zero waste and ensure a country's sustainable future. However, you can do a few critical things individually—both as a resident and a business—to help the UAE achieve zero waste. Here are four steps to follow:

1.     Consume Less

It should go without saying that you should prioritize this above all else. Do you genuinely need it? It is a question you must always ask yourself before making a purchase. You probably don't need to buy something if you feel you could survive without it.

2.     Reuse What You Have

It would be best to stop constantly buying new stuff to live a zero-waste lifestyle. Instead, try creatively searching your home for items you may reuse or adapt.

Check your leftovers from last night, for instance, rather than heading to the store to buy food for your next meal. Instead of discarding the glass container if you purchased a jam, you can reuse it to store dry goods.

3.     Recycle

Recycling bins are where many individuals begin their journey toward zero waste. Not long ago, everyone disposed of waste in the garbage can.

It's only been a few decades since the concept of a network of recycling bins was first proposed. These bins would be used by residents and companies, collected by local collection services, processed in sophisticated facilities, and then sold to the manufacturing sector. Recycling is a significant part of living a zero-waste lifestyle, but it is just one part of it.

4.     Compositing

Particular organic debris is converted into natural fertilizer for gardens through composting. Some individuals may be hesitant to compost if they don’t have gardens. But did you know that you can also use compost to nourish the grass, bushes, and trees out in your yard? Others may worry that the compost will smell, but a well-kept compost pile doesn't emit obnoxious scents.

Even though composting requires a bit more care than recycling, it still takes very little work to produce accessible, extremely nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Conclusion

Consider zero-waste management as a journey rather than a target. Don't feel bad if you dump a small amount of trash. Every little bit donated, placed in the compost, or recycled counts as less waste.

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