Shopping malls told to segregate garbage at source

Shopping malls are required to segregate recyclable waste at source and also get an approval on the bins that are used for collection of waste in line with the specifications issued by the Dubai Municipality. The waste management department of the civic body has issued a circular to the malls regarding this with a view to attain its goal of recycling most of the waste. The malls in the emirate were asked last year to segregate waste but many of them did not comply. Abdul Majid Saifaie, director of waste management department, said: "Parties are required to submit monthly reports on the quantity and quality of segregated wastes to the waste management department. In case of violation, the articles of Local Order No 11/2003 will be applicable starting from February 1, this year." Dubai has set plan to recycle 100 per cent of its waste and bring the percentage of garbage being sent to landfills from the existing 80-90 per cent to zero by 2030. Asking shopping malls to segregate waste at source will help the emirate attain this goal. Approvals According to the circular the malls should also get approval on the waste bins used for the waste collection in line with the specifications mentioned in the Technical Instruction No.5 issued by the department. Saifaie said the shopping malls can deal with the authorised companies by the department, which are listed in its updated publication issued in 2011. "The Municipality also started an experimental initiative to segregate recyclable and organic wastes at source by collecting it directly from houses placing separate waste bins for each item in collaboration with the private sector companies starting from this March," he said. In 2011, an average of 8,000 tonnes of general municipal waste was generated daily. Each person in the emirate contributes about 2.8 kilograms of waste every day. Dubai has reduced its daily waste generation and in the last few years the quantity of municipal waste averaged 10,000 tonnes a day. Fast facts -    8,000 tonnes of municipal waste generated on an average daily basis in 2011 -    2.8kg waste generated by every Dubai resident daily -    80-90% of garbage in Dubai presently being sent to landfills