Abu Dhabi Waste Characterisation Study Initial Findings: Significant Amount of Municipal Solid Waste is Food

The Waste Master Plan team analyses waste across Abu Dhabi. The study will provide key information for use in the development of the Abu Dhabi Waste Master Plan. 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 29, 2016:Initial findings from The Emirate of Abu Dhabi Waste Master Plan 2040’s Waste Characterisation Study indicates that a significant amount of Municipal Solid Waste is food. Estimations of food waste range from 35% to roughly 50% in some waste collection areas in the Emirate. The fieldwork for the Waste Characterisation Study was carried out in a three-month timeframe across nine waste collection lots  at six different locations across Abu Dhabi. Once completed, thestudy will provide key information for use in the development of the Abu Dhabi Waste Master Plan.

Commenting on the Waste Master Plan’s development, H.E.EissaSaif Al QubaisiGeneral Manager of Tadweer, Emirate of Abu Dhabi Waste Master Plan 2040said:

“We are at a significant point in the plan’s development. The findings and analysis from thisstudy will enable the Waste Master Plan team to develop scenarios that we can review with our Steering Committee members.We have highlighted the initial findings during the Steering Committee meeting and look forward to continued engagement as we begin the preparatory work for the scenario development phase of this project.” 

The study involved hand sorting Municipal Solid Waste materials from over 60 source samples into 26 different categories, such as: garden waste, food waste, cardboard, textiles, batteries, metal, etc. 

Dr. Salem Al Kaabi, Deputy General Manager at Tadweer (The Center of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi) revealed the initial findings of the study:

“Studying waste allows the team to create a waste profile across Abu Dhabi’s different regions and social and economic sector. While the analysis is ongoing, the technical consultant has initially reported on the Sub categorization of Municipal Solid Waste. This is an important finding because we know that food waste has the potential to biodegrade without oxygen in landfills producing Methane gas, which has21 times greater GHG (greenhouse gas) polluting capacity than Carbon Dioxide.” 

The study also indicated that 20% of waste is paper or cardboard, and approximately 2.5% of Municipal Solid Waste generated across Abu Dhabi is primarily drink bottles and containers thatare easily recyclable.Extensive laboratory testing on waste samples was undertaken to assess the potential of waste for Waste to Energy and other applications.

Residential Municipal Solid Waste makes up 12.5% of the waste in Abu Dhabi. Commercial & Industrial Waste and Construction & Demolition Waste together constitute the majority of waste in the Emirate. 

The Waste Characterisation Study’s initial findings were recently highlighted at the Waste Master Plan’s first Steering Committee meeting, which concluded at the end of March. This study is a significant part of developing the high-level scenarios for waste management, which are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter this year.