Latest news with #Enviroserve
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Responsible e-waste disposal urged as Enviroserve, Tadweer boost recycling efforts
5 June 2025 00:30 SARA ALZAABI, MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Old and unused electronic devices, if improperly discarded, pose risks not only to the environment but to personal data security. On World Environment Day, experts urged the public to ensure these gadgets are sent to trusted recyclers, emphasising the importance of responsible e-waste advance recycling efforts and boost the UAE's circular economy, Abu Dhabi's waste management entity Tadweer Group has acquired a 50% stake in Enviroserve - one of the world's largest e-waste recycling facilities - in on the public to pay close attention to e-waste in their households, Shashidhar Y S, Board Member and Managing Director at Enviroserve, spoke to Aletihad about the proper disposal of electronics."One of the most damaging myths is that old electronics are harmless if stored or discarded," Shashidhar said. But the truth is, improperly handled e-waste can pollute the environment and put data security at stake, he stressed."[This is why] they should use only certified recyclers like Enviroserve for proper disposal (which is traceable and safe)," Shashidhar is not just about disposal, he stressed, "it is about doing it right"."By choosing certified recyclers and taking responsibility for how we manage old devices, we can all help build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future."As technology advances, so does the complexity of e-waste, Shashidhar keep up with these shifts, Enviroserve is innovating its waste management by incorporating new technologies, including recycling EV batteries and smart devices, as well as recovering silicon from used solar panels-addressing the emerging waste challenges of the renewable energy sector, he added. Waste Management as Shared ResponsibilityThis World Environment Day, Tadweer Group urges the public to prioritise recycling and the proper disposal not only of e-waste but all other types of waste. "World Environment Day is a moment for all of us to pause and reflect on the role we play in protecting our planet. For us at Tadweer Group, it is a chance to remind the community that small changes can make a big difference, and show how working together leads to real environmental impact," Dr. Reem Al Kindi, Head of Public Awareness at Tadweer Group, told Aletihad . "The message we would like to convey is that waste is a valuable resource and we need to be more responsible with how we manage it – including incorporating the 3Rs in everything we do (reduce, reuse, recycle)." Lifestyle ShiftChanges in daily routines, such as segregating waste and reducing plastic use, have become necessary, considering the climate challenges the planet faces today, she said. Tadweer Group's Community Engagement Team has been raising awareness about these waste issues all year round, be it through school visits and events, as well as digital campaigns and partnerships."We believe awareness should be accessible and engaging. This is led by our Community Engagement team, which directly engages with the public to encourage the 3Rs, showcase the impact we can make if we segregate our waste, and that each individual is responsible for their actions," Al Kindi management is becoming more fundamental amid a rapidly growing population, urban development, and industrial activity - which could all contribute to an increasing volume of trash - Dr. Al Kindi said."Proper waste management in the UAE is a cornerstone of national sustainability and public wellbeing," she said. However, reaching sustainability targets requires shared responsibility. "Our objective is to divert 80% of waste from Abu Dhabi landfill by 2030, but we cannot do this alone-this relies in part on how the community segregates and sorts its waste." Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai student who helped place e-waste bins at some malls becomes 'recycling hero 2025'
A Dubai student and an environmental advocate has been recognised as the 'Recycling Hero 2025' by the Global Recycling Foundation, becoming the only recipient of the prestigious title from the Middle East this year. Rishabh Mittal is the founder of Going Green Dubai, a youth-led non-profit initiative that champions sustainable practices through impactful community recycling efforts. Since its inception, the initiative has successfully recycled 5,645 kilograms of electronic waste, 17,557 plastic bottles, and 1,323 kilograms of paper waste — setting a benchmark for grassroots environmental action in the region. 'Making a difference' Speaking about what inspired his journey, Mittal said, ' It started when I realised that recycling is something people want to do — but accessibility, especially for e-waste, is a major barrier. Old phones, chargers, cables — these are things most people have lying around, and as a tech enthusiast, I saw an opportunity to make a difference.' His collaboration with Enviroserve, a Dubai-based recycling facility, proved instrumental. The organisation specialises in securely recycling everything from personal devices like phones and laptops to large appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. Mittal was impressed by their end-to-end process, which includes safe data erasure and responsible material recovery. The Year 12 student of Dubai International Academy (DIA) Emirates Hills, said, 'Visiting Enviroserve gave me a clear understanding of the professionalism and reliability of their operations. It built my confidence to advocate for them within the community.' 'I launched my first e-waste recycling initiative in my own neighborhood in Business Bay — a 14-day campaign where we collected 210 kilograms of waste. This effort later expanded to my school and eventually to the wider Innoventures Education network. In one of our larger campaigns, we managed to collect 1,000 kilograms of e-waste,' added the Indian expat, who aspires to study Environmental Engineering at university. Initiatives at Emaar malls Mittal also used this platform to engage youth, schools, companies, communities and Emaar malls at The Springs Souk, Meadows Village and Meadows Town Centre to take action towards reducing the environmental footprint with e-waste recycling bins placed at each of the malls. The Recycling Heroes Competition, hosted by the UK-based Global Recycling Foundation, sought to recognise individuals and organisations who have made significant strides in recycling and sustainability. Participants from around the world were invited to submit a 60-90 seconds video to showcase their impactful initiatives. 'Rishabh has demonstrated his dedication to sustainability since Year 9 by running multiple campaigns in school. His e-waste recycling campaigns have gained widespread support from the community which also contributed to our school being named as a top three finalist for the World's Best School Prizes 2024 in the Environmental Action category,' said Hitesh Bhagat, Principal of DIA Emirates Hills.
The National
05-03-2025
- Business
- The National
Waste is outpacing population growth, requiring urgent action
The issue of how to manage waste is not a new one. Tackling the vast amounts of it that countries generate is a task for no one nation. Global waste is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, growing more than twice as fast as the global population. This points to the urgent need to tackle waste and the challenges of recycling. The shift from a linear to a circular economy continues to dominate the waste management conversation. At the heart of this transition are the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. To measure progress, however, it is crucial to collaborate with international partners and establish metrics and universal baseline measurements to implement a circular economy. Insights from the 2025 edition of the EcoWaste conference held in January in Abu Dhabi underscored the importance of embedding sustainability at the design stage of products and infrastructure to improve the rates of reuse and recycling. In the UAE, projects such as Masdar City are constructed with low-carbon cement and use 90 per cent recycled aluminum. This goes to show how design decisions at an early stage can reduce emissions and increase material reuse. Such efforts reflect the broader objectives of the UAE's Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031, which is a blueprint for sustainable development in the region. On the global stage, the Netherlands is leading the charge in Europe with its commitment to achieving a fully circular economy by 2050. According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor, annual e-waste generation is projected to increase by 2.6 million tonnes each year, reaching an estimated 82 million tonnes by 2030 – a 33 per cent rise from the 62 million tonnes recorded in 2022. Alarmingly, this growth is occurring five times faster than the documented rates of e-waste recycling. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration to drive innovations in e-waste recycling, such as automated sorting and chemical recycling, to meet the UN's goal of achieving a 60 per cent recycling rate by 2030. The UAE is taking a leading role, with Enviroserve, the region's first integrated e-waste processing hub, capable of recycling up to 39,000 tonnes annually. On the global stage, companies such as Apple are setting examples with scalable solutions like the 'Daisy' robot, which disassembles old devices to recover rare materials. Concepts such as these illustrate how cutting-edge technologies can help tackle the growing e-waste crisis. Waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies are key solutions for reducing landfill waste and generating clean energy by converting non-recyclable waste into electricity and heat. In the UAE, Tadweer Group leads the development of the world's most advanced WtE facility, set to process 900,000 tonnes of waste annually and reduce carbon emissions by 1.1 million tonnes a year. This will set new benchmarks for WtE energy in scale, efficiency, and environmental impact. Similarly, the Sharjah Waste-to-Energy plant processes 300,000 tonnes of waste annually, powering over 28,000 homes, while the Warsan Waste Management Centre can generate 220 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, which can power 135,000 residential units. Countries such as Sweden have refined WtE processes to the point of importing waste for energy generation. It just highlights how WtE technologies can drive the future of sustainable waste management and clean energy. With traditional waste collection fleets contributing to urban emissions, waste collection systems are being transformed to align with decarbonisation goals. Electric and hybrid waste collection fleets are gaining traction, and biofuels are being explored as viable alternatives to diesel. At last month's EcoWaste conference, the UK's Greater Cambridge councils outlined their innovative approach to decarbonising their refuse collection fleets. Their strategy includes the adoption of electric refuse vehicles, the use of solar-powered depots, and investment in biofuel alternatives to speed up their journey towards net-zero emissions. These initiatives collectively highlight the growing commitment to integrating clean energy solutions into waste management, thus trying to ensure a greener and more sustainable urban future. Importantly, the role of people and public engagement in waste management is evolving from passive awareness to active participation. Part of this change is due to innovative solutions such as reverse vending machines (RVMs), which incentivise recycling by rewarding users for returning bottles and cans. Their adoption has gained momentum globally, and are being used widely across Dubai and Abu Dhabi with more installations anticipated this year. Globally, countries such as Germany and Norway set the benchmark for RVM adoption, achieving recycling rates exceeding 90 per cent. These systems demonstrate the critical role people play in sustainability efforts. Emerging trends such as RVMs – enabled by the Internet of Things – are set to streamline public participation. As we look to 2025, it is clear that addressing the global waste challenge requires a multifaceted approach. Guided by its ambitious Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the UAE leadership in sustainability demonstrates what is possible when innovation, policy and public engagement converge. The World Future Energy Summit and the EcoWaste exhibition point to the nation's efforts to this end. By investing in circular economy strategies, leveraging emerging technologies, and fostering global collaboration, the world can turn waste into opportunity. Tadweer Group, part of ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based holding company, is promoting sustainable waste practices and establishing new benchmarks for the circular economy. The company's vision is aimed at revolutionising waste management by unlocking the value of waste. As the sole custodian of waste management in Abu Dhabi, Tadweer Group is committed to using advanced technologies and fostering strategic partnerships in support of the UAE's sustainability objectives, working towards its goal of diverting 80 per cent of Abu Dhabi's waste away from landfills by 2030. Besides its commitment to Abu Dhabi, Tadweer Group has ambitious international goals. It's striving to make significant contributions to sustainable waste management even beyond the UAE.
