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Imdaad drives Dubai's sustainable future with innovative waste management

With key projects under its belt, Imdaad is all set to reach new heights. Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer, Imdaad, speaks to R. Keerthana about its commitment to the sustainability goals of the UAE and dedication to providing comprehensive solutions to its diverse clientele.


Filed under
Waste Management
 
August 28 2024
 
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Imdaad, a pioneering waste management services company in Dubai, has witnessed steady growth and tremendous success since its inception in 2007. Its commitment to the sustainability goals of the UAE and dedication to providing comprehensive solutions to its diverse clientele have solidified its position as a leader in the industry. With key initiatives in the pipeline, the company is all set to reach new heights. 

Speaking to Waste & Recycling magazine, Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer, Imdaad, attributed the company’s success to its innovative approaches, commitment to sustainability, and strong customer relationships. “We develop strategic partnerships with our clients and suppliers, going beyond standard commercial contract relationships,” he said, explaining that Imdaad collaborates with its supply chain partners to explore global best practices and tailor them to meet the specific needs of the UAE." “We also engage with our clients in supporting their initiatives to drive better resource management in their communities.” 

Imdaad collects more than 1500 tonnes of waste every day from Dubai and diverts almost 120,000 tonnes from landfill annually. Additionally, it’s working to divert a significant quantity of waste to Dubai Municipality’s Waste-to-Energy plant as per the waste acceptance criteria.

FARZ, Imdaad’s material recovery facility, plays a central role in its waste diversion efforts. The MRF currently recovers over 12% of waste from landfill through its recovery process. “We are working closely with our partners to improve this recovery percentage and divert more resources for recycling,” the COO noted. The recent addition of a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant at FARZ has significantly boosted waste diversion efforts. The plant diverts about 60,000 tonnes of waste from landfill annually. Plans to enhance the capacity of the plant are also on the cards to achieve more diversion from landfill. “Further, we are exploring organic waste solutions with various technology providers,” he added.  

Hatta Project: A flagship initiative

The waste management division of Imdaad has secured major projects and expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of new businesses. "One of Imdaad's recent milestones was securing a project from Dubai Municipality to manage waste and city cleaning services in Hatta.” Calling the Hatta Project a flagship initiative, Rasheed said, “It is significant because Hatta is a prominent tourist destination in the UAE, and managing waste in such an important location amplifies the trust that clients have in Imdaad's capabilities.” 

Imdaad works closely with Dubai Municipality on this project, which was launched in February this year. “We have introduced a two-bin system across Hatta to promote source segregation and are working with authorities and community influencers to enhance waste handling behaviour among the people.” 

Retail Waste Management Platform

Another innovative project under development is an online platform designed to monitor, quantify, and identify tenant participation in source segregation programmes for retail chains. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of waste management in the retail sector and maximise resource recovery. “The platform, expected to launch in Q4 of 2024, will provide valuable insights into the amount of recyclables generated in a retail space. Retail waste is where we can recover more resources effectively if we have a proper segregation plan,” noted Rasheed. 

Technological advancement 

Enhancing operational efficiency and technological capabilities is a priority for the company. It is in the process of migrating to a new ERP system, which will enable the development of operational dashboards. These dashboards will allow for close monitoring of operations and facilitate continuous improvements in efficiency. 

Speaking about other technological adaptations, Rasheed said, “We are also exploring the use of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the quality of segregated materials.” 

Imdaad's commitment to sustainability is closely aligned with Dubai's broader sustainability goals. “Being part of this ecosystem, we firmly believe that we have a major role in making the Emirate sustainable whether through waste management, waste recycling, resource management or decarbonisation. By actively participating in these areas, Imdaad contributes to Dubai's vision of becoming a global leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship,” Rasheed stated.

Customer connect 

Imdaad organises regular customer engagement activities, fostering a strong connection with them for collaborative sustainability initiatives. It organised 25 programmes in 2023 and 20 in 2024, aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting recycling among its clients. According to Rasheed, “Such events give them an insight into the environmental initiatives Imdaad is involved in.” 

The company also organises customer awareness training programmes on topics such as recycling and sustainability, zero waste to landfill, sustainable sourcing, smart waste management, innovative assets and recycling guidelines. In 2023, it organised 64 such sessions, where the total participation was about 937 customers from different sectors. In 2024, as many as 10 tailored awareness sessions were conducted for a range of clients with total headcount of 68. “The effectiveness of these programmes are reflected in the quality and quantity of recyclables we collect at source,” he noted.  

“Customer retention is one of the key parameters to measure the customer engagement programme,” he said, adding that Imdaad boasts a retention rate of over 97% in its contracts, well above industry standards. “This high retention rate reflects the company's success in building strong relationships with clients and delivering exceptional service.” 

Staff training 

The entity also places great emphasis on staff training, viewing it as a continuous activity crucial for operational excellence. “Customised training is provided to address operational, safety, and behavioural improvement needs. Achieving 100% training coverage is one of our yearly goals,” he explained. The Imdaad EHSQ team along with external trainers provide work-related training to all the Imdaad employees. 

Its ‘Mihnati’ training programme is designed for operational modules for fresh hires and refreshers for existing employees. “We have provided 6,659 man hours of training so far in 2024. Half of the man hours are from Mihnati, while the other half are on EHSQ grounds. 73 topics related to safety and operational improvement were covered in the training.”

TSE water polishing 

Imdaad's contributions to the circular economy extend beyond solid waste management. The company's treated sewage effluent (TSE) water polishing services are a significant step towards achieving efficiency in water management. Started as a pilot project in 2022, it is up and running across all the sewerage treatment plants owned by Imdaad. The treated sewage effluent, which is a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, is upcycled using an advanced polishing system. The polished water is then put back to the industrial water network, thus reducing dependency on fresh water supply. Rasheed pointed out, “This initiative not only conserves water resources but also offsets carbon emissions associated with seawater desalination.”

On average, the carbon impact of desalinating one m3 of seawater using reverse osmosis technology is estimated to be around 5.0 kg of CO2 emissions. However, the carbon impact can be higher or lower depending on various factors such as the efficiency of the desalination plant, the source of energy used, and the distance between the desalination plant and the end-users.

“By implementing this system, we are offsetting a reasonable amount of carbon produced from the process of water produced for industrial purposes through seawater desalination,” he added.  

Eco-friendly mosquito traps 

Traditional mosquito control relies on chemical insecticides which increases toxicity levels in soil and vegetation, kills beneficial insects and affects humans and pets. As an alternative, Imdaad has introduced eco-friendly traps that are insecticide-free and safe for people, animals, and the environment.