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Constructing a circular model for C&D waste

Waste & Recycling magazine got in touch with two experts from the UAE whose companies have been striving to achieve resource efficiency in the C&D waste management sector.


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C&D
 
October 30 2024 R. Keerthana
 
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The UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021 - 2031 identifies four priority sectors, where the circular economy principles can be applied. One of them is the Green infrastructure & development. It calls for Smart and Sustainable Urban Plans, Green Building Design and Construction Utilisation, renovation and upgrade of Buildings and Infrastructure. In the statement, it highlights how the infrastructure sector is inefficient, and wasteful. “Around 10-15% of building materials are wasted during construction and the vast majority of demolition materials are landfilled, without any value being extracted from the waste. In the UAE, construction and demolition (C&D) waste account for between 70 to 75 % of the total mass of solid waste produced in the UAE.” By adopting circular economy strategies in the infrastructure sector, the UAE aims to have more efficiently designed, constructed, rebuilt and demolished infrastructure where material and resource use and pollution are minimised and where valuable materials are kept in use and not lost or wasted. 

Waste & Recycling magazine got in touch with two experts from the UAE whose companies have been striving to achieve resource efficiency in the C&D waste management sector. Daker El Rabaya, CEO -Waste Processing and Treatment, Beeah, said, “The overarching strategy for circularity in the construction industry focuses on minimising waste and striving for waste elimination wherever feasible.” As a booming industry in the UAE, construction must standardise circular practices such as using sustainable, recycled materials like concrete and green steel, transitioning to renewable energy sources on construction sites, and ensuring efficient, sustainable waste management systems, he said, adding “Stricter enforcement of regulations and increased awareness of the value in recycling can help prevent illegal dumping of construction waste.” By partnering with recyclers, companies can recover valuable materials such as concrete aggregate, reducing environmental impact and lowering costs. Across the construction value chain, from material procurement to demolition, integrating circular practices like modular design and design for disassembly can significantly reduce waste and create a more sustainable industry, El Rabaya suggested. He called for collective action from both the private sector and government is essential to move towards a circular economy model. 

Sharing his insights, John Grainger, Chief Operating Officer, Dulsco Environment, noted that using eco-friendly and recycled materials is one way to minimise the industry's environmental footprint. “Additionally, we take recycled C&D waste and process it into materials like recycled aggregates and sub-base. These materials are produced through specialised crushing and screening techniques, ensuring they meet the necessary quality standards.” These aggregates and sub-base materials are then used in various applications, including road construction, infrastructure projects and building foundations, putting waste to good use and significantly reducing the waste sent to landfills, he said. He also suggested that adopting innovative techniques such as 3D printing and modular construction reduces material waste and increases building efficiency, further contributing to a circular economy model. 

Speaking about the challenges, Grainger said, “The UAE faces several challenges in managing C&D waste, largely due to the rapid pace of development. The main challenges include lack of proper segregation at the source and knowledge on waste management best practices on C&D sites. “While recycling facilities exist, their effectiveness is limited when waste is not separated correctly. Sorting mixed C&D waste on-site remains a significant hurdle, leading to recyclable materials frequently ending up in landfills. Furthermore, implementing recycling solutions comes with higher upfront costs, including investment in technologies and waste-sorting personnel,” he noted. 

El Rabaya drew our attention to the lack of awareness in some parts of the construction industry regarding the environmental and commercial benefits of adopting circular practices. “Illegal dumping of C&D waste in open spaces and desert areas continues to harm the environment, while some companies prioritise transporting waste to cheaper disposal sites, increasing emissions and environmental risks,” he pointed out. 

“Another challenge is the tension between short-term cost savings and the long-term commercial benefits of circular waste practices. While the financial advantages are long-term, companies must recognise the importance of minimising environmental impact and prepare for stricter regulations and fines that will likely be introduced in the near future.” Stronger collaboration between regulatory authorities, waste management providers, and construction companies will be crucial in overcoming these challenges and promoting sustainable waste management practices across the industry, he remarked. 

Commenting on the scenario in Sharjah, El Rabaya stated, “Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to create a sustainable future for the emirate, Sharjah has made significant strides in its journey toward achieving the zero-waste goal. As part of BEEAH’s Zero Waste to landfill strategy, one of the key areas targeted is the management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in which 99% of C&D waste is now diverted from landfills by recovering valuable materials and producing alternative raw materials and fuels.” 

Innovations transforming the industry 

Innovative technologies and processes—such as advanced recycling methods, smart sorting systems, and the use of eco-friendly building materials—are transforming how the industry manages waste.

“Beeah has several partners in the construction industry that have committed to circularity, including using alternative fuels and materials, produced through low-emission processes at our integrated waste management complex in Sharjah. We are also working with governments and urban developments to adopt these models in cities across the UAE, as well as in KSA and Egypt,” he pointed out.   

Our construction and demolition waste facility, which diverts more than 97% of waste it receives, is part of a larger ecosystem of ten specialised facilities, located close to each other at Beeah’s waste management complex. “The proximity of these facilities enables us to move waste from one facility to another for further processing when needed and further increase landfill diversion rates. For example, the Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) facility transforms commercial residue waste into a high quality alternative green fuel that can be injected into kilns in cement factories, which significantly reduces emissions in their production process.

The company has also introduced a digital platform called Recycling BI to track our material recovery rates across facilities and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs). This technology helps identify more opportunities for material recovery, process waste into alternative materials and fuels, and ultimately accelerate our progress toward total landfill diversion. 

At BEEAH, all the collected waste in the Sharjah city is transported and treated at our Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Facility (CDW). In the year 2022, a total of 557,987 tonnes of such waste was received at the facility and the same quantity was recycled, displaying a recycling efficiency of more than 98%. 

“When it comes to C&D waste, a domestically developed process gives a second life to bulky waste. These waste materials are recycled into construction material, which are sold back into the market for use in backfilling, road construction, in pavements and walkways and in making construction materials such as interlocks and curb stones.”

Back in 2023, Beeah awarded the title of “Green Partner” to Sharjah Cement Factory and Lafarge Emirates Cement/Geocycle for being among the UAE’s first cement production facilities to utilise lower emission fuels, contribute to net-zero emissions targets and support the circular economy. “The idea was to encourage best practices and implement the right solutions, reducing impact on the environment and ultimately contributing to wider sustainability targets. Adoption of our solutions drives us to continue producing high-quality alternative fuels and innovating for a zero-waste, net-zero emissions future,” he said. 

Grainger highlighted a notable innovation in the UAE as the use of by-products from the residue of construction waste. This process converts materials into alternative fuel for other industrial processes that are facing challenges using fossil fuel and have high carbon emissions. Dulsco Environment state-of-the-art C&D Waste Recycling Plants, established in 2017 in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MoPA), showcases excellence in sustainable waste management practises. “These facilities achieve an impressive 93% landfill diversion rate by effectively sorting, processing, and recycling C&D waste to recover valuable materials like aggregates, sub-base, and sand that can be used in construction projects,” he said, adding, that such successful model of recycling and waste management can be replicated in regions with similar industrial demands and sustainability goals, promoting environmental responsibility on a larger scale.

In 2023, Dulsco’s C&D waste recycling facilities processed over 600,000 tonnes of C&D waste, successfully avoiding 366,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, thus supporting UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative, and placing the products produced back into industry. “Our efficient collection and transportation systems, coupled with regulations from the MOCCAE requiring the use of 40% recycled aggregates in construction, have boosted demand for our recycled materials and helped conserve natural resources. In 2023, companies across the UAE purchased over 300,000 tonnes of repurposed waste from our C&D plants.”

He added that by recycling C&D waste, Duslco also mitigated environmental degradation in the northern Emirates, reducing the impact of quarrying on local ecosystems. “Our exclusive 15-year concession with MOCCAE and MoPA has established a sustainable public-private partnership, ensuring responsible management of all C&D waste and effectively eliminating illegal dumping.” 

What does the future hold? 

The rapid pace of urbanisation and infrastructure development in the UAE has exacerbated the C&D waste management. Therefore, sustainability principles across all stages of construction, from initial design to eventual demolition and local sourcing of materials, are necessary. Similarly, decarbonising the building sector must be approached at different levels—production of materials, transportation of those materials, and site management.

El Rabaya noted that the UAE government has implemented several regulations and policies aimed at promoting sustainable construction and waste management practices even beyond the construction phase.The strict building codes that govern the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings to ensure their safety and structural integrity. Construction companies are ensuring that their projects comply with these codes to avoid fines, delays, and legal disputes.”

Another measure he advocated was the usage of industrial and C&D waste for construction. “Note that green buildings are a blueprint for a sustainable future. Green buildings integrate efficient technologies, sustainable design and construction, and greater efficiency in lifestyle to ensure better management of waste and water. Incentivising green buildings through tax benefits, subsidies, or certification rewards that can stimulate wider adoption,” he noted. 

Grainger too stressed the need for stricter regulations around waste management, aligned with circular economy principles. “These regulations will emphasise material reuse and recycling rather than sending waste to landfills. The UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative and the newly introduced UAE Federal Decree Law No. 11 will further push the construction sector toward rigorous sustainability practices, compelling companies to adopt more efficient waste reduction strategies as part of their construction and demolition programmes.” “Specifically, we foresee the adoption of automated sorting systems and robotic technologies to enhance the efficiency of recycling facilities, enabling the extraction of valuable resources such as steel, concrete, and gypsum for reuse. The government is expected to introduce stricter recycling targets and waste reduction mandates, leading to the expansion of public-private partnerships that will drive the recycling and sustainability agenda forward.”