The event witnessed the participation of more than 30 industrial professionals from the waste management sector. They included Tariq Ibrahim, General Manager, Waste Management Division, M.T. Khoory, Lucas Dörr, Head of Export Business Development, FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co, Thibaut Guéroult,  Regional Director, SULO, Salem Al-Ablam, Waste Treatment Section Manager, and Obaid Ibrahim from Dubai Municipality, Ronald Jackson, Manager, Material Recovery Facility (MRF & FCF), Department of Public Health, Fujairah Municipality, Eng. Haleimah Seraidy, Chief of Waste Management, Dibba Municipality,  Mohammad Al Bhawr, Delegate Purchases, Dibba Municipality, Samer Kamal, Chief Sustainability Officer, Averda, Rafael Sanjurjo Lopez, CEO, BEEAH Tandeef, Mahmood Rasheed, COO, Imdaad, Ashly Alex, Director of Environment Services, Imdaad, Gavin McQuillan, Commercial Director, Dulsco Environment, Maya Tawil, Business Development Director - Veolia UAE, Imran Gill, CEO, Evogreen, Ognjen Jovanovic, General Manager Daimler Truck Sales, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE, Olaf Petersen, General Manager Daimler Truck Sales, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE, Ing. Nana Osei Mainoo, Managing Director, Correct Engineering Group and Egya-Boi Awoonor, Director, Director, Correct Engineering Group, Ghana. 

The industry experts discussed the changes and advancements in the UAE’s waste management sector. The conversation showcased the industry's evolving approach to waste management and the need for collaborative efforts, infrastructure development, and improved waste handling practices to achieve sustainable waste management goals. The speakers emphasized the need to view waste as a series of material streams with different characteristics and opportunities for resource recovery. They advocated the shift from traditional waste management practices to a more advanced and large-scale treatment approach.

The speakers also touched on the challenges faced in waste management, such as managing population growth, infrastructure planning, and proper waste segregation. They highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and education in promoting recycling and reducing landfill waste. They emphasised the need for qualified human capital and improved health and safety practices in the waste management industry. 

Furthermore, the speakers discussed the transformation of waste management companies from simply collecting and transporting waste to focusing on treatment and resource recovery. They mention investments in treatment facilities and the importance of source segregation and quality control to ensure clean feedstock for recycling processes. 

The discussion predominantly focused on the challenges faced in collection and transportation of waste. They discussed  new solutions for cost reduction and automation in waste collection with real-world applications.  They included novel and advanced techniques and technologies applied in the management of collection vehicles fleet, sensors and communication modules equipped waste bins and containers and optimization of vehicle routing. Environmental and health issues such as vehicles meeting new emission standards and using electric vehicles in the collection were also dwelled upon. 

The experts on the table further explored the importance of data in waste management and recycling. The speakers emphasized the need to gather and analyze data to make informed decisions and improve waste management practices. They mentioned various data collection methods, such as using RFID in bins to track waste types and weights, monitoring vehicle maintenance and driving behaviour, and tracking tire pressure and fuel consumption. The data helped in setting targets, understanding waste composition, and planning for future initiatives and equipment deployment, they explained. The conversation also highlighted the significance of data at the municipal and federal levels for policy-making and planning. 

Digitisation of waste management systems was mentioned as a way to improve understanding of waste generation, handling, and trends. The speakers stressed the importance of waste characterisation, setting clear recycling targets for different materials, and educating the public about recycling capabilities to avoid contamination.

The participants examined the opportunities and challenges in waste management and recycling, including the role of legislation, extended producer responsibility, material selection, and the concept of circular economy. They discussed the need for holistic approaches involving stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as citizens, to promote mindful consumption, reduce waste generation, and optimise recycling processes. The speakers also stressed on the importance of monitoring and measuring progress, acknowledging companies and organisations that contribute to waste management innovations and meeting sustainability standards. 

Mr Abdulla MT Khoory, Vice Chairman of Alkhoory Group, who also attended the event, commented, “Through our waste management division, MT Khoory & Sons is committed to providing cost effective solutions to the waste management industry in the UAE by promoting prestigious brands such as Faun and Citybac from SULO. The UAE being a quality-driven market, we are confident that we will achieve the desired success with these brands.”

ROTOPRESS DEMONSTRATION

The roundtable discussion was followed by a demonstration of Rotopress by the Faun team. 

Talking about the vehicle, Lucas Dörr said that it is one of the most economical refuse collection vehicles for the collection of municipal, commercial and household waste. “With the appropriate lift the ROTOPRESS can empty all containers, from 60 litre bins up to large 1,100 litre waste bins.

The ROTOPRESS is ideal for the removal of organic waste, which is immediately homogenised and compacted in the rotary drum.” Talking about its operation, he added, “Only one thing is in motion here, and that is the rotating drum. That‘s why the ROTOPRESS requires minimal maintenance and repairs. this has an impact on the operational budget.”