Abu Dhabi-based Alliances for Global Sustainability (AGS) announced a long-term collaboration with Veolia through its local affiliate, Veolia Middle East to set up GCC’s most advanced food-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant in the emirate.
Veolia is a French transnational company with activities in three main service and utility areas traditionally managed by public authorities including water management, waste management and energy services.
The plant, funded by a range of Abu Dhabi and Federal stakeholders including the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Tadweer and KIZAD, is expected to produce 14,000 tons of recycled raw material (rPET) of food-grade quality per year using advanced sorting technologies.
The recycling plant will improve the circular economy of Abu Dhabi while offering innovative solutions for the global sustainability sector.
Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s ambitious waste management plan will be completely incorporated into the project. The waste management strategy aims to divert waste from landfills, boost recycling and foster a circular economy.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Founder & CEO AGS
“Through the development of this innovative facility, we aim to help consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader within the sustainability sector, while also further enabling a circular economy and encouraging habitual recycling. The economic impact of developing and operating this facility will be realized through both job creation and further opportunities in the emirate’s waste management sector. The results of this will showcase lucrative investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi to global markets.”
“Aligning with Abu Dhabi’s Environment Vision, the UAE’s Green Agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, this state-of-the-art facility will support sustainable development not only here in Abu Dhabi but throughout the UAE and GCC,” she further added.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports said, ” Minimizing waste, protecting our environment’s essential ecosystems, and reducing our overall environmental impact are key concerns in Abu Dhabi Ports’ approach to fulfilling the goals of the sustainable development goals. The recycling plant will not only benefit Abu Dhabi’s circular, but it will also support KIZAD’s efforts to promote sustainability among their local and international customer clientele.”
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, EAD stated, “EAD will work with other government partners to ensure recovered materials are utilized locally as much as possible. Therefore, we consider this project by the Alliance For Global Sustainability as an important enabler to achieve our target. The policy also targets other single-use plastic products like bags that shall be replaced by multiple-use grocery shopping bags. Other products including cutlery, plates, cups and lids and stirrers shall be subject to levies.”
Dr. Salem Al Kaabi, Director-General of Tadweer commented, “Tadweer is committed to working closely with its partners including AGS and Veolia to enhance recycling and develop innovative solutions to mitigate the harmful effects of waste on our environment.”
With more than three billion PET soft drinks and water bottles consumed per year in the UAE, recycling food-grade plastic bottles would add a large amount of renewable raw materials to the regional market. Compared to virgin PET, processing rPET takes 75 percent less energy and recycling just one PET bottle saves enough electricity to power a light bulb for more than 24 hours.
