Waste & Recycling magazine celebrated the people and organisations driving progress across the waste and recycling sector at the eighth edition of the Middle East Waste & Recycling Awards (MEWAR Awards) 2026.

The awards received more than 150 entries from across the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey and beyond, reflecting the breadth of innovation and commitment across the region’s waste management and recycling industry.

The MEWAR Awards aim to recognise the innovations and contributions shaping the sector. Over eight editions, the awards have welcomed entries from regional leaders, multinational companies and start-ups alike. This year, new categories were introduced in textile waste, construction and demolition waste, waste-to-energy and other areas, reflecting the sector’s evolving priorities.

Every entry was assessed by an independent jury of industry experts, comprising Monir Salem Ghanem, Advisor for Environment Policy and Regulations at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; Massimo Imparato, member of the Circular Economy Policy Committee and Dean of the School of Architecture and Interior Design, Canadian University Dubai; Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA); Eng. Omar AlSaleh, Founder of the Circular Economy Club Jordan and Founding Fellow of the Circular Economy Institute; Dr. Mahmoud Mawed, Vice Chairman of the International Facility Management Association (UAE Chapter) and Adjunct Lecturer at Heriot-Watt University; and Brian Taylor, Senior Editor at the Recycling Today Media Group.

The awards recognised achievements across 20 categories, spanning waste collection, construction and demolition waste reduction, waste-to-energy, smart technology solutions, food waste prevention, metals recycling, resource recovery and sustainable packaging.

AbdulRahman Al Qaryan, Board Member, Al Qaryan Group, presented the keynote address. 

Special recognition for Emirates Global Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) received the Special Recognition award, presented to Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA. The award was received on his behalf by Iman Alqasim, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at EGA.

The recognition highlighted EGA’s contribution to the aluminium recycling sector and the advancement of circular economy practices in the UAE.  

Winners of the MEWAR Awards 2026

The following organisations and individuals received Gold and Silver awards across the 20 categories.

Excellence in Waste Collection Award

Gold: Tajmee’e

Silver: Imdaad

Excellence in C&D Waste Reduction Award

Gold: Dulsco Environment

Silver: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah)

Waste-to-Energy Excellence Award

Gold: Dubai Municipality

Gold: Emirates Waste to Energy Company (tie)

Best Smart Technology Solution (Waste Management & Recycling)

Gold: Ajman Municipality & Planning Department

Silver: FreshonTable

Food Waste Initiative of the Year

Gold: ne’ma

Silver: Emirates Flight Catering

Silver: Ehfaaz (tie)

Metals Recycling Company of the Year

Gold: Al Qaryan Group

Silver: Metal & Recycling Company K.S.C.P

Zero Waste Leadership Award

Gold: Dubai Airports

Silver: Arabian Gulf Steel Industries

Best Waste Diversion/Reduction Initiative (Government Sector)

Gold: Tadweer Group

Silver: Tahweel

Emerging Green Enterprise Award: Waste & Recycling

Gold: Earth Recycler Sustainability Solution

Silver: Al Samar Metals Industries

Personality of the Year: Recycling

Gold: Tarek Al-Mousa, Metal & Recycling Company

Silver: Dr. Salam Al Sharif, Sharif Metals Group

Technology Innovation of the Year

Gold: Deniz Metal Dokum Sanayi TIC. LTD. STI.

Silver: CFlo World FZE

Personality of the Year: Waste Management

Gold: Dr. Jayesh Panchal, Cleanco Waste Treatment 

Sustainability Initiative of the Year

Gold: KAIZEN Asset Management Services

Silver: Green Vision Consultants L.L.C and Agthia Group (tie)

Sustainable Packaging Company of the Year

Gold: Alpla Plastic Middle East Industries

Silver: Hotpack Packaging Industries

Hazardous Waste Management

Gold: Holcim

Silver: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah)

WEEE & Battery Recycling Company of the Year

Gold: Enviroserve

Silver: Madenat Al Nokhba Recycling Services

Textile Waste Management Initiative Award

Gold: Landmark Group

Silver: Dubai World Trade Centre

Excellence in Material Sorting & Recovery

Gold: Dulsco Environment

Plastic Recycling Company of the Year

Gold: Consent

Silver: Advance Plastic Chips Manufacturing

Rising Star: Waste & Recycling

Gold: Priyanka Jha, Advance Plastics Chips Manufacturing

The Best Cheer Squad Award was also presented during the ceremony, recognising audience participation at the event.

Ceremony photos can be viewed here