Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Exploring solutions to waste challenges, the 10th edition of EcoWaste Exhibition and Conference commenced on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The exhibition is one of six vertical platforms within the World Future Energy Summit, which also kicked off on Tuesday and runs until Thursday. Over the course of three days, the 16th edition of the summit for future energy and sustainability places significant emphasis on advancing the climate change agenda established at COP28 in Dubai last November.
With its plans for practical development in the transition of future energy systems, this summit is the premier venue for advancing corporate and intellectual advancement.
The EcoWaste Exhibition and Conference, along with the other five conferences, is the innovative venue for the recycling, waste management, and waste-to-energy sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is committed to promoting new business prospects and encouraging best practices for a more sustainable future.
Opening the EcoWaste Exhibition and Conference, Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer Group, said: “As we embark on this journey together, it is imperative to recognise the profound impact the waste sector has on our environment and our communities.”
The conference is focusing on key topics such as advanced technologies and recycling infrastructure. “As a group, we firmly believe that waste is not a burden to be disposed of, but rather a valuable resource waiting to be harnessed.
This belief forms the cornerstone of our approach as we work tirelessly to promote the transition to a circular economy,” he added. Al Dhaheri emphasised the potential of utilising waste for economic growth, environmental protection, and community resilience, highlighting the collective capabilities of a greener future.
The conference also highlighted the concept of a circular economy focused on minimising waste, reuse, recycling, and repurposing it to create new value. Highlighting the role of waste as an alternative and sustainable energy source, Al Dhahe said: “This year’s conference will explore the opportunities to harness waste as an alternative and sustainable energy source, contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy.”
The conference encourages active participation and collective action to find sustainable long-term solutions to the challenges faced by the waste sector.
Panel Discussion on Sustainability
Under the title “Unlocking the circular economy: How Tadweer Group is achieving its waste diversion ambitions,” a panel discussion was held with a focus on sustainability, aligned with the 2024 Year of Sustainability.
The session highlightedTadweer Group’s sustainability initiatives and contributions to the UAE’s wider sustainability agenda. Ibrahim Al Ali, Director of the Strategy Planning and Policies Department at Tadweer Group, shared the group’s strategic priorities within 2024 Year of Sustainability and how they align with the UAE’s broader sustainability agenda.
“So when it comes to the core purpose of the waste management company, it is to achieve 80% waste diversion by 2030. Another priority here is the UAE’s Net Zero goal. Following the success of COP28 last year and as a continuation of that effort, the UAE has also announced that this year is also a Year of Sustainability. We also play a key role in the sector,” Al Ali said.
He added that a shift in mindset is needed regarding waste, as it is a resource with high value.
The company’s strategy involves collaboration with all relevant entities and partners “to create a highly successful integrated waste system. This entails leveraging advanced technologies, fostering a high level of awareness, establishing a robust legal framework, and providing financial incentives,” Al Ali noted.
Dr. Sivapalaan Kathiravale, Research and Development Head at Tadweer Group, emphasised the importance of resource management and the need for various technologies to ensure resources are reused and re-purposed. He highlighted the concept of BATNEEC (best available techniques not entailing excessive costs).
Tadweer has invested in technologies such as Levidian, AquaGreen, and Waste-to-Zero to re-imagine resources and ensure they return to circularity. He also remarked on the emerging technologies, such as waste to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which are crucial for converting waste into sustainable aviation fuel and reducing carbon footprints.
