Imdaad, a Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable facilities management services, officially launched FARZ, a material recovery facility (MRF) situated in the National Industries Park in Jebel Ali. HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, was the chief guest at the event.

One of the largest fully-automated MRFs in the region, FARZ was established in line with their commitment to contributing to the goals of the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021, which envisages diverting 75 percent of all municipal solid waste away from landfills by 2021, says Imdaad. Spanning an area of 45,322sq m, the MRF has the capacity to process 1,200 tonnes of municipal as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) waste per day – equivalent to nearly 13 percent of the total waste generated daily in Dubai, with a recovery rate of 25-30 percent.

It incorporates cutting-edge magnetic, optical, and ballistic separators and smart recovery technologies to segregate and reclaim valuables, such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), PE bags, old corrugated cardboard (OCC), and wood, from the C&I and source-segregated mixed waste that Imdaad collects daily from different parts of Dubai.

“The National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021 underscores the importance of devising innovative solutions to divert 75 percent of municipal solid waste away from landfills. In this context, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in partnership with public and private sector stakeholders, endeavours to embrace the circular economy and turn waste from a burden to a source of income in the UAE,” said HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE.

He commended the use of smart tech at FARZ and stressed that technological advancements are integral to driving sustainable waste management. “With integrated smart technology and developed after carrying out several waste characterisation studies, FARZ will revitalise the UAE’s waste minimisation efforts,” stated Hamdan Al-Shaer, Chairman, FARZ, adding that their vision is to equip the facility to close the recycling loop within the country.

Jamal Lootah, Group CEO, Imdaad, said, “As an innovative and effective solution for recycling waste and helping reduce the amount of refuse that ends up in landfills, FARZ forms a significant part of our initiatives to promote sustainability and environmental protection.”

In addition to segregating waste, the MRF will help reduce emissions caused by trucks that collect and carry waste to landfill, says Imdaad, which has a fleet of more than 100 vehicles that collect waste from new Dubai premises and travel 60 km daily on average to the landfill located at the Dubai-Sharjah border for disposal. The company says, with the new plant, all these vehicles will be removed from Dubai’s roads and highways, leading to a significant reduction in emissions and traffic as well.