< PreviousSaraswati Agarwal Commercial Director T: +971 4 444 3352 M: +971 52 895 2214 Email: saraswati.agarwal@itp.com Ashley Williams Editor, Construction Week T: +971 4 444 3302 Email: ashley.williams@itp.com Ebonie Platfoot Events Manager T: +971 4 444 3689 Email: ebonie.platfoot@itp.com CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2021 ConstructionWeekOnline.com/ksa-awards #CWAwards RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES: FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES: FOR EVENT ENQUIRIES: PLATINUM SPONSOR NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! GOLD SPONSORSwww.fm-middleeast.com COMMENT May 2021 31 circular economy is an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. It replaces the end-of- life concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair reuse and return to the biosphere, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems and business models. This is the definition as per the World Economic Forum. In this special report, Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group chief executive officer at Imdaad, says that “the waste management sector must adopt the best practices to ensure safe and environmentally friendly waste disposal, besides phasing out waste disposal in the long run. Waste management methods must incorporate innovative techniques to ensure that the relevant nutrients are preserved in wastes to ensure their use in the agro- economic cycle, thereby also Want to enter the debate? If you have any comments to make on these issues, email the editor at rajiv.pillai@itp.com. VIEWP INT We still have a long way to go in fully embracing a sustainable circular economy, and this cannot be achieved without the help of the waste management industry. RAJIV RAVINDRAN PILLAI Going in circles A About the author Rajiv Ravindran Pillai is the editor of Facilities Management Middle East. reducing agriculture’s dependence on chemical fertilizers and fossil sources”. For a circular economy it is essential to recycle materials from waste in order ‘to close the loop’. The recovery of energy from waste also plays an important role. Waste disposal should be phased out and, where it is unavoidable, it must be adequately controlled to be safe for human health and the environment. Business, governments and citizens around the world increasingly recognise the challenges caused by our “take-make-dispose” approach to production and consumption. In 2019, over 92 billion tonnes of materials were extracted and processed, contributing to about half of global CO 2 emissions. The resulting waste – including plastics, textiles, food, electronics and more – is taking its toll on the environment and human health, the World Economic Forum report further states. The circular economy in essence encourages the elimination of waste and the safe use of natural resources. With growing landfills and increasing wastes, we still have a long way to go in fully embracing a sustainable circular economy, and this cannot be acheived without the help of the waste management industry. KNOWLEDGE PARTNER 32 May 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group chief executive offi cer at Imdaad, explains the role of waste management in a circular economy Closing the loop through effective waste management methods including recycling and energy recovery are important in achieving a circular economy, reveals Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group chief executive officer at Imdaad. He adds: “The waste management sector must adopt the best practices to ensure safe and environmentally friendly waste disposal, besides phasing out waste disposal in the long run. Waste management methods must incorporate innovative techniques to ensure that the relevant nutrients are preserved in wastes to ensure their use in the agro- economic cycle, thereby also reducing agriculture’s dependence on chemical fertilizers and fossil sources. More sustainable approaches to collecting, transporting, and recycling wastes need to be developed, besides improving the efficiency and quality of the waste CLOSING THE LOOP Jamal Abdulla Lootah, group chief executive offi cer at Imdaad. sorting and recycling processes.” As an Integrated Facilities Management Company Imdaad has always been keen to further enhance its portfolio of integrated, sustainable facilities management services through the adoption of new technology and innovation to address issues facing current and future communities, reveals Lootah. Farz, Imdaad’s material recovery facility (MRF) in Dubai, supports the UAE’s waste minimisation efforts through its integrated smart technology. The facility endeavours to close the recycling loop within the country in the long term, thereby contributing to the efforts to embrace the circular economy and monetise waste in line with the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda goal of diverting 75% of all municipal solid waste away from landfills by 2021, while also contributing to a greener tomorrow. Towards this end, Farz plans to collaborate with companies that require a regular supply of raw materials. The establishment of Farz has also been in line with Imdaad’s long-term sustainability goals. The new plant eliminated the need for the company’s fleet of over 100 vehicles to travel an additional 60km every day to the landfill site for waste disposal, hence reducing CO 2 emission by over 19,250kg per day. SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT USE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ARE CRUCIAL TO THE EFFORTS TO ‘CLOSE THE LOOP’ IN LINE WITH CIRCULAR ECONOMY ASPIRATIONS. Farz uses cutt ing-edge magnetic, optical, and ballistic separators and smart recovery technologies to segregate and reclaim valuable materials. The UAE’s per capita waste generation is among the world’s highest.KNOWLEDGE PARTNER May 2021 33www.fm-middleeast.com SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT “The increasing quantities of waste and its effective management are major concerns all over the world, primarily due to the inefficient methods of waste collection and management used widely. Smart waste management solutions that use innovative technology are crucial to the efforts to ‘close the loop’ in line with circular economy aspirations,” Lootah reveals. Farz’s capacity to process 1,200 tonnes of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste daily represents almost 13% of the total waste generated daily in Dubai. The facility uses cutting-edge magnetic, optical, and ballistic separators and smart recovery technologies to segregate and reclaim valuable materials including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), PE bags, Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC), and wood from the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) and source-segregated mixed waste Imdaad collects daily from around the city. With advanced segregation technologies, Farz boasts the most efficient recovery rate in the UAE (25-30%). All segregation processes are completely automated, with manual intervention required only for quality control. The reclaimed materials are stored at the facility in the form of bales, which are later sold to buyers in the UAE or overseas. In addition, plans are underway to produce Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) at Farz in line with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s decree calling on cement factories to use alternative fuels. CHALLENGES One of the major challenges facing the waste management sector, with regards to the current pandemic situation, Lootah says is that there is the risk of cross-contamination of general waste with PPE. He says: “There is a lack of awareness among the public regarding safe methods to dispose of single-use masks and gloves, due to which people continue leaving them in general waste bins and even recycling bins. According to recent estimates, over 129 billion face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves are used worldwide every single month due to the pandemic, compounding the problem further. In a country like the UAE with a diverse, floating population, it is often not easy for waste management companies to create awareness among the public on the proper methods of waste disposal. Residents here usually move communities every 2-3 years on average, which reduces the effectiveness of the training and awareness programs conducted for various communities.” The UAE’s per capita waste generation is among the world’s highest, with a significant part of this disposed of in landfills. By facilitating the recycling of wastes, Farz has been helping to reduce the amount of refuse that ends up in the UAE’s landfills, delivering economic, health, and environmental benefits to the country’s residents and environment. Imdaad has been actively involved in creating awareness on the importance of waste segregation at source and has been providing dedicated bins for different kinds of waste for the provision of source segregation. The company has introduced several initiatives to encourage source segregation at the grassroots level, including the launch of an innovative ‘Reverse Vending Machine’ initiative in cooperation with Dubai Customs, the ‘Envirocare Month’ campaign to raise awareness on the importance of responsible waste management, and the Be’ati program to raise awareness among the nation’s young generation of the need for waste segregation and recycling as a vital component of environmental sustainability. Lootah says: “Imdaad’s mechanism for collecting, transporting, and incinerating medical wastes was an important contribution to the UAE’s fight against the pandemic last year. The company has been constantly adopting sustainable practices across all its operations in line with its commitment to the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda, in addition to employing ground-breaking technologies and offering innovative services, setting an example for the regional FM industry.” In conclusion Lootah says: “It would be a good idea to have a proper waste management plan in place right from the construction phase of a new project, to effectively manage all types of wastes without affecting the health of the residents or the environment. Currently, waste management plans focus only on general waste and recyclables, with no proper direction on managing other types of wastes like green, bulky, etc., during the initial period of development. By devising a comprehensive plan, waste generation can be minimised, and on-site reuse and recycling can be maximised, besides ensuring that all wastes are disposed of safely.” Farz, Imdaad’s material recovery facility (MRF) in Dubai, supports the UAE’s waste minimisation eff orts through its integrated smart technology. ENVIRONMENT FOCUS 34 May 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Dulsco has made it its mission to facilitate, reuse, and recycle, in order to give back to the environment and play its part in a circular economy, says John Grainger, chief operating offi cer, Dulsco Environmental Solutions E nvironmental Solutions provider Dulsco has been playing its part in contributing towards a circular economy. John Grainger, chief operating officer, Dulsco Environmental Solutions, says: “At Dulsco, we see our role as a critical part of the circular economy process; embracing methods that repurpose waste which traditionally would be discarded after use and contrasting a traditional linear economy with a ‘make, use, dispose’ agenda. With circular economy, the aim is to extract the maximum value from any material, repurpose it before recovering and regenerating products FACILITATE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE and materials at the end of their service life.” At Dulsco its environmental business is changing from a waste transporter into a facilitator for the communities in promoting and educating on the importance of a circular economy. Grainger says: “We have made it our mission to facilitate, reuse, and recycle, in order to give back to the environment and play our part in a circular economy.” Dulsco has established a treatment portfolio including an Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and an Oil Re-refinery Plant, the first of their kind in the region. Additionally, it has a Construction and Demolition (C&D) initiative in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, where crushed concrete is recycled into a sub-base, which is used in the construction of roads and other development projects. The firm has also established its Paper Pulp Moulding Facility and Glass Upcycling Workshops, where its mission is to reduce the wastage of paper and glass by utilising them and recycling them to create new and innovative repurposed products. Grainger adds: “To top it off, we have recently introduced our new eco-friendly brand The New Old and Reloved by Dulsco: a new product line of upcycled furniture made out of recycled barrels and wood pallets. The brand has launched in a shop at Wafi Mall in Dubai ENVIRONMENT FOCUS ENVIRONMENT FOCUS May 2021 35www.fm-middleeast.com and is a manifestation of our efforts in driving environmentally conscious consumerism.” DULSCO AND EXPO 2020 DUBAI Dulsco’s circular economy plan also falls in line with Expo 2020 Dubai’s vision of being the most sustainable Expo ever, says Grainger. He elaborates: “As official waste management partners, we are working closely with Expo 2020 Dubai to achieve their vision of diverting 85% of waste from the Expo 2020 Dubai away from landfill. Our suite of facilities across the region further supports our positioning to handle the waste collected for Expo 2020 Dubai and repurpose it into upcycled products, such as cup holders, seed pots, and sustainable Expo-branded mementos. We are also working closely with partners of Expo 2020 Dubai to achieve the subtheme of sustainability, encouraging them to drive recycling where possible and to promote sustainability through their own means to a large footfall of Expo 2020 Dubai visitors and Dubai residents and citizens. Dulsco is at the forefront of sustainability, recycling, diversion from landfill, and the promotion of recycling within the community.” CHALLENGES Talking about the challenges facing the waste management sector and how can they be rectified, Grainger says: “One of the biggest challenges we face in the waste management sector is education and helping companies become aware of not only the importance of our actions on the planet, but also the benefit it will bring to them as an organisation. Many organisations are unaware of the drastic effect their company has on the environment, and in turn, the health of the human species. Our mission is to educate entities on the importance of improving their carbon footprint, through waste management reduction in the first instance and then reuse and recycle as the next priority.” Grainger says that there is a “common misconception amongst organisations that being sustainable and eco-friendly comes with a high cost, and not all are willing to invest in this”. He adds: “One of our challenges is to rectify this and spread awareness on how affordable it can be in the long run. For example, our Construction and Demolition Waste Management is able to reduce cost, as well as maximise environmental benefits.” The Construction and Demolition Waste Management process helps replace up to 40% of new materials, and by repurposing the product again and again, companies are cutting down on the overall capital expenditure of their projects. He concludes: “In the long run, making these environmentally friendly changes – prioritising waste reduction and then recycling – will create a beneficial return on investment.” John Grainger, chief operating offi cer, Dulsco Environmental Solutions. OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE ENTITIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT, THROUGH WASTE MANAGEMENT REDUCTION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND THEN REUSE AND RECYCLE AS THE NEXT PRIORITY. Dulsco is working closely with Expo 2020 Duabi to achieve the latt er's vision of diverting 85% of waste from the Expo 2020 Dubai away from landfi ll. WASTE MANAGEMENT NEWS www.fm-middleeast.com36 May 2021 The Al Dhaid Municipality, Sharjah has engaged Bee’ah, the Middle East’s award- winning sustainability pioneer, for city cleaning and waste collection. The agreement was signed by HE Ali Musabbah Al Tunaiji, Director of Al Dhaid Municipality and HE Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Bee’ah. Commenting on the occasion, HE Ali Musabbah Al Tunaiji, said: “In line with the UAE’s sustainability goals, we are delighted to appoint Bee’ah, in support of delivering our mandate for clean and healthy environments that positively impact the welfare of citizens and residents of Al Dhaid. Through improved waste management and city cleaning solutions, we are confident of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a happier society.” H.E. Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Bee’ah, said: “Bee’ah is the trusted partner of municipalities and government entities for sustainable environmental services across the MENA region. We are proud to be expanding our services to the communities in Al Dhaid Municipality, utilizing our trained workforce, specialised fleet of vehicles, advanced equipment and industry knowledge to ensure best practices are being implemented for city cleaning and waste management.” The agreement between Al Dhaid Municipality and Bee’ah includes Bee’ah’s award-winning waste collection services for solid waste, recyclables, green waste and construction & demolition waste. Residents can also avail of Bee’ah’s ‘You Call, We Haul’ service for bulky waste collection. Bee’ah’s vast range of city cleaning services includes bin washing, mechanical The agreement between Al Dhaid Municipality and Bee’ah includes Bee’ah’s award- winning waste collection services for solid waste, recyclables, green waste and construction & demolition waste Al Dhaid Municipality appoints Bee’ah to enhance city cleaning and waste management sweeping, manual cleaning, litter picking, and washing and removal of debris from all the public and community areas. Bee’ah’s fleet of specialised city cleaning vehicles, such as low-noise electric litter picking units, mechanised street washers, electric sweepers, and more will be deployed to efficiently maintain the cleanliness of the city. The expansion of Bee’ah’s operations supports the UAE’s sustainability goals, by providing world-class integrated waste management services and environmental protection. In addition to its core services in Al Dhaid, Bee’ah will also be conducting community awareness programs for residents to promote recycling and household waste segregation. Bee’ah serves millions of residents across the MENA region through municipal and commercial contracts, including the UAE, Egypt and KSA. Bee’ah’s approach to holistic and integrated waste management includes advanced recycling and waste treatment facilities at its Waste Management Complex in Sharjah. Bee’ah has also digitalised its waste management services through WastePro+, a fully integrated artificial intelligence (AI) digital solution to streamline its operations from waste collection to treatment and disposal. The agreement was signed by HE Ali Musabbah Al Tunaiji, Director of Al Dhaid Municipality and HE Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Bee’ah.www.fm-middleeast.com WASTE MANAGEMENT NEWS May 2021 37 Dubai Holding has partnered with ITOCHU Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova, BESIX Group and Tech Group to develop one of the world’s largest energy-from-waste (EfW) facility. The consortium of leading international companies will build and operate the AED4bn project under a 35-year concession period with Dubai Municipality. This landmark public- private partnership represents one of the most significant renewable energy investments in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Centre for Waste Processing, located in the Warsan area, will treat 5,666 tonnes of municipal solid waste produced by Dubai per day. A total of 1,900,000 tonnes of waste per year will be converted into renewable energy. The approximate 200 MW of electricity generated will be fed into the local grid as clean energy. The facility will have the capacity to process up to 45% of Dubai’s current municipal waste generation, in turn significantly minimising the volume of municipal waste in landfills. In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the facility will contribute to reaching the goals set by Dubai Municipality in minimising the volume of municipal waste in landfills and developing alternative energy sources as well as contribute to sustainable and ecologically friendly waste management in the Emirate and the targets outlined in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. The Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had given the start signal for implementing the project in line with international environmental standards and with a capacity of about one thousand trucks per day. Foundational works on the project are proceeding at pace. The project finance loan agreements, in the amount of $900m, have been finalised The facility will have the capacity to process up to 45% of Dubai’s current municipal waste generation, in turn signifi cantly minimising the volume of municipal waste in landfi lls Dubai to build one of the world’s largest energy- from-waste facility with Japan Bank for International Cooperation and financial institutions including Société Générale Bank, KfW IPEX Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Siemens Bank and Crédit Agricole Bank. Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) will provide the insurance for a part of the loan being provided by the financial institutions. Khalid Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Holding, said: “Inspired by our wise leadership’s unwavering ambition and dedication to excellence, Dubai has become synonymous with breaking records over the years. Today, we are proud to be marking yet another milestone for the Emirate to ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come. This significant investment by the group of companies that form this consortium, based on an agreement with Dubai Municipality, highlights international confidence in our market and Dubai’s continued appeal in attracting foreign direct investment, despite a more challenging global economic climate.” Al Malik added: “By partnering with a strong consortium of strategic and financial investors, we are delivering on our promise of continuously supporting the Emirate’s growth and diversification strategy. As a responsible business, Dubai Holding is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring everything we do contributes to the Good of Tomorrow.” Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: “The Dubai Centre for Waste Processing is proceeding according to schedule, with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s support. The strategic focus of this project is to achieve environmental protection, reduce carbon emissions, divert waste from the landfills, and contribute towards the realisation of Dubai’s strategy to shift towards clean energy.” Al Hajri added: “Dubai Municipality is setting up an attractive environment for investors to support increased foreign direct investment.” The construction of the project is being carried out by BESIX Middle East and Hitachi Zosen Innova. At the peak of the works, 2,500 workers will be deployed, and the site will use up to 16 tower cranes, including the largest tower cranes in the world for the installation of equipment inside the plant. The construction of the project is being carried out by BESIX Middle East and Hitachi Zosen Innova. SITE VISIT 38 May 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Dara Towhidi, partner at Foster + Partners, reveals how FM played a crucial role during the design stage of Sharjah’s newly opened library House of Wisdom T here is a feeling of immense tranquillity and peace when you enter the newly opened House of Wisdom (HoW) library in Sharjah. Situated near the University City of Sharjah, the newly opened HoW, designed by Foster + Partners, is set on an elevated platform spanning WISDOM IN FM The House of Wisdom (HoW) library in Sharjah is set on an elevated platform spanning 12,000 square metres and comprises 15 lobbies and halls spread across two storeys. 12,000 square metres and comprises 15 lobbies and halls spread across two storeys offering an immersive space for learning, sharing, creating, and accessing knowledge. During a brief conversation with a partner architect at Foster + Partners, Dara Towhidi says that facilities management was “one of the many significant factors that came into play during the designing stage of the project so that we could fully develop an iconic library that pioneers in harnessing an environment that integrates people, place and technology”. He says: “Our mission behind the development and launch of the House of Wisdom was to conceptualise and create SITE VISIT May 2021 39www.fm-middleeast.com a construct that was founded on the pillars of functionality, comfort, safety, sustainability and efficiency. “FM’s advanced stage concepts helped establish House of Wisdom as a place where people can work, play, learn and live under safe, comfortable, productive and sustainable environment. Through FM, we factored in a number of steps during the design stage of the project and those included mitigating environmental impact during and after the construction phase, guaranteeing compliance, ensuring safety measures across all facilities, personnel and people, establishing efficient operation measures and concepts, and leveraging technology as solutions for establishing a solid, unique and innovative infrastructure to the House of Wisdom project.” HoW was built to commemorate the emirate’s yearlong tenure as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019. Developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), HoW offers access to a new way of knowledge exploration with books in varied languages and formats, vast digital resources, a fabrication lab with 3D printers to build prototypes of experimental projects and cutting-edge technology to print and bind books within minutes. The two-story structure features a large floating roof cantilevering on all sides of a transparent rectilinear volume. The 15-meter-wide overhang shades the façades throughout most of the day, while aluminium screens are designed to filter the low sun in the evenings. Talking about the aluminium screens, Towhidi says: “We designed the screens to be set in front of the glazing such that there is a gap between the two. This allows access for cleaning and maintenance using a Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP).” On the sustainability features of the building, Towhidi adds: “The shading strategy is a key part in the sustainability story. One of the first questions we asked ourselves was, how do we maintain good natural light and environment without allowing too much sun and heat into the building? We wanted to do this by passive means where possible, which inspired the idea of the large overhanging roof that shelters the building during the hottest parts of the day. Fixed external screens are used to prevent the sun from entering the building in the mornings and evenings with a final layer of internal BMS-controlled blinds to prevent any glare. At ground level, manually operated bamboo screens allow the occupiers to personally manage light levels to their comfort. The façade and The library will be home to 305,000 books, of which 200,000 are in the digital format and 11,000 comprising books in varied languages.Next >