MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
With a fleet of AI-enabled trucks and smart bins, Tadweer Group’s subsidiary Tajmee’e is betting on artificial intelligence and active community engagement to transform waste collection into a high-tech engine powering Abu Dhabi’s circular economy.
Its vision for the city is one where overflowing bins send alerts, waste trucks follow optimised AI routes, and trash is transformed into a resource before it ever hits the landfill.
The goal is to divert 80% of the emirate’s waste away from landfills by 2030 and to position the UAE as a global leader in circular economy.
“At Tadweer Group, we believe that waste is not waste. It is a resource – one with the power to create energy, support our economy, and protect our planet,” Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer Group, said during the launch of Tajmee’e on Wednesday.
“Unlocking this value begins at the very start: Collection. It is the foundation of everything we do. And with Tajmee’e, we are making it smarter, safer and more sustainable than ever before.”
How will AI transform waste collection?
The pilot launch in October will see 1,000 smart bins and about 400 trucks mobilised, with a wider rollout across the city expected in the next phase.
The promise of Tajmee’e lies in data-driven efficiency. Matt Rogers, Executive Director of Technology and Digital at Tadweer Group, noted that the smart bins are fitted with fill-level sensors that alert when they need to be emptied.
“This allows us to trigger AI-powered route optimisation,” Rogers told Aletihad.
“Instead of trucks following fixed routes, they’ll only go where they’re needed. That reduces kilometres travelled, fuel consumed, and carbon emissions.”
The system also incorporates computer vision and predictive analytics. Trucks can detect overflowing or damaged bins, while treatment facilities will soon use AI to identify and sort materials on conveyer belts.
Rogers said these models would be used in the long term to anticipate seasonal waste volumes and drive operational decisions.
Smarter Trucks, Safer Streets
Hussein Al Hammadi, Executive Director of Crisis Management at Tadweer Group, said Tajmee’e would leverage tech-driven safety measures to operate its truck fleet.
“With over hundreds of vehicles and over a thousand employees working daily, safety must be built into every process,” he told Aletihad.
AI-enabled internal cameras will issue real-time alerts if a driver uses a phone, shows signs of fatigue, or fails to wear a seatbelt, while external cameras powered by AI will be able to detect hazards around the vehicle, ensuring safer operations especially in residential areas.
Community Engagement at the Core
In an interview with Aletihad, Ashly Alex, CEO of Tajmee’e, explained why this launch marks more than just a logistical upgrade.
“We are not here to be just a waste collection company,” he said. “We want to play a bigger role – as a catalyst in transforming the industry itself by embedding technology, safety and community engagement at the heart of our operations.”
Abdulwahed Juma, Executive Director of Communication and Awareness at Tadweer Group, highlighted the importance of community engagement.
“Segregated waste is a resource; contaminated waste is a burden,” Juma told Aletihad.
“If waste is mixed, up to 35% of our operational costs are added. But if it’s segregated at the source, it can go straight into recycling streams and transformation industries.”