Ras Al khaima is set to have a massive power station, worth Dh500-Dh700 million for the benefit of the Northern Emirates, according to a senior official here.

Eng Yousef Al Ahmad Al Rissi, director of the waste management department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said the new station is to produce electric energy by treating recycled wastes.

Eng Ahmad Mohammed Al Hammadi, director-general of the department of public works and services here, said the project is in line with the 2021 national agenda of the UAE government, "whereby 70 per cent of the wastes collected are to be recycled and treated".

As per a study conducted by the department in collaboration with the waste management authority in the emirate, up to 40 per cent of the food served to hotel guests are dumped, he added.

"Up to 60 per cent of the food is dumped during the holy month of Ramadan, though," he said, adding that the department is all set to use advanced and environment-friendly technologies to handle the increasing amounts of wastes being dumped on a daily basis across the emirate due to the growing population and urban expansion, he underlined. "Large amounts of wastes are not categorised and are accordingly got rid of in a random way, posing a grave risk to people's health."

Sonia Nasser, director of the waste management authority in Ras Al Khaimah, said they started collecting and recycling food wastes and recyclable stuff from the restaurants and hotels of the emirate. "Up to 70 tonnes of diverse wastes, including foods, plastic bottles, metal and paper items are being collected from these outlets on a monthly basis in comparison to 20 monthly tonnes last year."

The glass wastes being collected are referred to a specialised factory in Jebel Ali in Dubai for remanufacturing and resale in Ras Al Khaimah, Nasser disclosed.

"We have started the second phase of the project whereby the fish and vegetables markets wastes are being sorted out and recycled for producing electric energy and bio-fertilisers."

Eng Al Rissi said Ajman and Umm Al Quwain are to have a sustainable waste-recycling station by the end of 2019 against an approximate value of Dh120 million.

"The new waste recycling station is being founded in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, he said. "The waste materials in both emirates will be first collected, then sorted out, and recycled for producing biofuel."

The organic fertilisers and other materials needed for powering cement factories will also be produced, he disclosed. "The total capacity of the Umm Al Quwain station is expected to hit 1,000 to 1,500 tonnes every day. However, the environment-friendly station may only start operation by the end of 2019, Al Rissi stated.

"The new waste recycling station is to significantly reduce the amount of wastes being interred, as well as the number the landfills needed."

Source: Khaleej Times