Imdaad signs a landmark long-term waste management agreement with Economic Zones World

DUBAI– Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities management (FM) solutions in the GCC, has announced that it has recently concluded a landmark long-term agreement for waste management with the Economic Zones World (EZW), the global developer and operator of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks under the Dubai Property Group. Jamal Abdullah Lootah, CEO of Imdaad, and Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO of JAFZA and EZW, signed the agreement for setting up of an AED 100 million technologically advanced material recovery facility at TechnoPark in Jebel Ali to recover the recyclables from solid waste collected by Imdaad.

According to the terms of the agreement, Imdaad will set up a waste sorting facility for the management of solid waste. Constructed over an area of 60,000 square meters, the plant will have the capability to recover maximum recyclables generated from the Jebel Ali area including the World Expo 2020 venue. The cutting-edge plant will have an initial operating capacity of 1,000 tons/day, with a possibility to double the operation in the future. It will cater not only to waste collected by Imdaad but will also be open to other waste collection companies.

The new state-of-the-art waste material recovery facility will be another significant milestone in Imdaad partnership with EZW, which will reflect the synergy and commitment of both organizations towards sustainable development of the UAE. Imdaad collected 300,000 tons of waste in 2013 alone, which has lead Imdaad to build a recycling plant of this scale.

Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO Economic Zones World said: ” The establishment of this facility will augment Economic Zones World’s own efforts in moving towards greater sustainability under the Green Economy initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. By providing Jebel Ali-based companies access to waste recycling at their doorstep, we are ensuring a cleaner and greener economy for our future generations.”

With the building of this material recovery plant, TechnoPark will become the first economic zone not only in the UAE but also in the region to have such a pioneering facility which will help recover the recyclables from the waste generated by all Jebel Ali-based companies including Jafza, where it will cater to the waste management needs of the multinational companies established within the Free Zone who are eager to cut down their carbon footprints with effective management of waste.

Jamal Abdullah Lootah said: “The long-term agreement with EZW is a major win for Imdaad which once again reinforces our position as a leading FM company in the UAE. We are confident that this will be a major stepping stone for us as a strategic partner for the future venue of the World Expo 2020 in terms of integrated facilities management. By setting up a modern waste recycling facility within TechnoPark, we will be able to achieve maximum waste diversion, which will in turn reduce the waste being sent to Dubai Municipality Landfill.”

Aside from saving the landfill area and the cost of transportation, the eco-friendly material recycling facility in TechnoPark will tremendously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve fuel, recycle material, spread awareness and will act as a platform to raise awareness among UAE’s people. The facility will be open for school and university students so that they can get greater insight about waste management technology in the region. In addition, the plant will have a next generation research and development (R&D) department, which will conduct research to find out the latest technologies for effective management and treatment of waste.

“The material recovery facility at TechnoPark will be our first step towards the vision of completing waste management cycle to enhance our capabilities in terms of supporting the region’s drive towards a sustainable environment. It is also in alignment with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘Green Initiatives’ for an environmental-friendly Dubai. Taking advantage of the innovative technologies, Imdaad will explore avenues for setting up of such waste recycling plants across the UAE,” concluded Lootah.