ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Emirates Biotech and UAE University (UAEU) have launched a joint research project to design, build and operate a pilot plant that will convert food waste and compostable packaging into biogas and compost.
The facility, described in a statement as the UAE’s first integrated organic-waste valorisation pilot plant, will be located near the UAEU campus in Al Ain and process up to 40kg of organic waste a day.
The project will examine whether mixed food waste containing compostable packaging can be processed together to produce renewable biogas and nutrient-rich compost while diverting waste from landfills.
The pilot plant will combine anaerobic digestion and composting. Anaerobic digestion will convert organic waste into biogas, while the material remaining after the process, known as digestate, will be composted to produce nutrient-rich compost.
A laboratory-scale assessment will also explore the potential to convert the biogas into renewable hydrogen, the statement said.
The two-year project will run from August 2026 to August 2028, with the installation and commissioning of the facility expected to be completed by August 2027. Researchers will evaluate the technical performance and environmental and economic potential of the integrated process.
According to the statement, food waste accounts for nearly 40% of the UAE’s daily municipal solid waste, much of which is sent to landfills. Traditional plastic packaging heavily contaminated with food residue can also be difficult to recycle.
Dr Rami, Associate Provost for Research at UAEU, said: “At UAEU, we believe that solving societal and environmental challenges requires strong collaboration between academia and industry. Our partnership with Emirates Biotech demonstrates how research and innovation can be translated into practical, scalable solutions that support the UAE’s sustainability goals.”
Professor Zafar Said Sher, UAEU’s project lead, said the pilot would evaluate a practical way to process food waste and compostable packaging at the end of their useful life.
“This integrated pilot project will evaluate a practical end-of-life pathway for food waste and compostable packaging while supporting the UAE’s circular economy, food security and Net Zero ambitions,” he said.
“It will also provide a platform for training students and researchers and strengthening local capability in waste-to-resource technologies.”
Students and researchers will participate in the project and receive practical research and technical training, the statement said.
Dr Aman Kulshrestha, Chief Technology Officer of Emirates Biotech, said the project would demonstrate an integrated biorefinery model for managing organic waste in the UAE.
“Anaerobic digestion will convert organic waste into renewable biogas, with the potential for upgrading to green hydrogen. The resulting digestate will undergo composting to produce nutrient-rich compost,” he said.
“Successful regional validation could be a game changer for organic waste diversion and circularity, while demonstrating the role of compostable packaging as an enabler.”
If successfully expanded, an integrated organic-waste valorisation plant could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 89% compared with landfilling, according to the statement.
The project is expected to produce technical evidence and operating guidance that could support the development of larger modular facilities in the UAE and other markets.
The partnership was launched at UAEU in Al Ain in the presence of representatives from Emirates Environmental Group, Hotpack, AW Rostamani Group’s VerraPak, Tadweer Group, the University of Sharjah and Pacogreen.