*Waste management conference kicks off
The 1st International Conference on Waste Management, organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, kicked off on Monday, with the participation of a number of governmental institutions, private sector and local factories as well as some external parties, a group of experts and local and international specialists in the waste management and treatment.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie said that Qatar, under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has developed a comprehensive strategy to deal with all types of waste, whether from residential places, commercial and industrial sites, or the building and construction sector, among others.
He said that Qatar has adopted a comprehensive plan to manage and recycle this waste by establishing a waste management and treatment centre in Mesaieed, which is one of the largest centres in the region, as well as meet environmental safety requirements in terms of treating waste in a modern and safe manner, believing that there is a direct relationship between the efforts of waste management and recycling in preserving the integrity of the environment and achieving sustainable development to which Qatar pays most attention as it has placed environmental development as one of the main pillars of its National Vision 2030.
HE the Minister stressed that Qatar's keenness to organise this conference for the first time (remotely) due to the challenges of the coronavirus (Covid-19) confirms the great interest that the country attaches to the issue of recycling waste, reducing its quantities and reusing it in the production of compost and power generation in accordance with the strategy of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and the second national development strategy of Qatar (2018-2022), and through an integrated waste management plan aimed at improving waste collection, establishing factories to recycle organic, plastic and electronic waste, as well as establishing treatment plants to convert waste into energy and waste incineration plants, in addition to developing policies and legislation that support waste reduction activities, and national awareness campaigns and programmes to encourage individuals and companies to reduce waste and use recycled materials.
He added that the ministry has adopted waste recycling as one of its key issues, and has set many facilities for it, in recognition of the importance of development and the environment, and keenness to find the best solutions and technologies for the impacts resulting from the population growth and urban and economic development that Qatar is witnessing.
The recycling process contributes to preserving the environment, reducing pollution, preserving resources and energy, reducing consumption, raising the efficiency of production processes, as well as protecting lands from harmful substances, he added.
HE al-Subaie hoped for distinguished participation in the activities of this conference (visible and virtual) through presentations, workshops and seminars presented by local and international institutions, companies, experts and specialists that deal with many issues related to waste management and recycling, pointing out that this conference represents an opportunity for all participants as well as observers from different countries of the world to benefit from these topics and discussions, participate in making the future of waste management and recycling.
Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada underlined the keenness of the ministry on holding the conference for its utmost importance in the lives of all living things on the planet and its direct impact on the sustainable development.
Addressing the opening session of the hybrid conference, al-Sada said that the conference will discuss over two days several topics related to waste management and recycling through presentations, workshops and discussion panels.
The topics include circular economy, integration between the public and private sectors, modern technologies for converting waste into energy, research and development in the field of waste, food waste, smart management of waste collection and transportation, waste and challenges in light of the coronavirus pandemic, recycling and other topics related to the management of recycling and treating waste of various kinds.
He said that the ministry, within the framework of its strategic plan, is concerned with preparing the necessary policies and strategies and developing plans for waste management in the country, in order to ensure the preservation of the health and safety of the society and the improvement of the quality of life, in co-ordination with the competent authorities.
He noted that the Waste Recycling and Treatment Department supervises the solid waste treatment plant, its transfer stations, and the sanitary landfills for waste and recycling in accordance with international specifications and standards.
The department also develops the necessary administrative plans for solid waste treatment to ensure the preservation of public health and safety.
Al-Sada indicated that the ministry established the largest waste treatment centre in the Middle East in 2011.
The centre treats 2,300 tonnes of household waste and produces 50 megawatts of electrical energy.
In 2020, the Center produced more than 30,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser and generated about 269,000 megawatts/hour of electric power, and more than 33mn cu m of biogas, in addition to processing more than 30,000 tonnes of car tyres in each of the Umm Al Afai and Rawdat Rashid landfills.
The centre also recycled about 420,000 tonnes of construction waste.
In 2019, the ministry, represented by the Public Hygiene Department, launched an integrated programme for sorting and recycling waste in Qatar aims to reduce the amount of waste and economically benefit from waste recycling and achieve sustainable development.
He said that Qatar has adopted a comprehensive plan to manage and recycle this waste by establishing a waste management and treatment centre in Mesaieed, which is one of the largest centres in the region, as well as meet environmental safety requirements in terms of treating waste in a modern and safe manner, believing that there is a direct relationship between the efforts of waste management and recycling in preserving the integrity of the environment and achieving sustainable development to which Qatar pays most attention as it has placed environmental development as one of the main pillars of its National Vision 2030.
HE the Minister stressed that Qatar's keenness to organise this conference for the first time (remotely) due to the challenges of the coronavirus (Covid-19) confirms the great interest that the country attaches to the issue of recycling waste, reducing its quantities and reusing it in the production of compost and power generation in accordance with the strategy of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and the second national development strategy of Qatar (2018-2022), and through an integrated waste management plan aimed at improving waste collection, establishing factories to recycle organic, plastic and electronic waste, as well as establishing treatment plants to convert waste into energy and waste incineration plants, in addition to developing policies and legislation that support waste reduction activities, and national awareness campaigns and programmes to encourage individuals and companies to reduce waste and use recycled materials.
He added that the ministry has adopted waste recycling as one of its key issues, and has set many facilities for it, in recognition of the importance of development and the environment, and keenness to find the best solutions and technologies for the impacts resulting from the population growth and urban and economic development that Qatar is witnessing.
The recycling process contributes to preserving the environment, reducing pollution, preserving resources and energy, reducing consumption, raising the efficiency of production processes, as well as protecting lands from harmful substances, he added.
HE al-Subaie hoped for distinguished participation in the activities of this conference (visible and virtual) through presentations, workshops and seminars presented by local and international institutions, companies, experts and specialists that deal with many issues related to waste management and recycling, pointing out that this conference represents an opportunity for all participants as well as observers from different countries of the world to benefit from these topics and discussions, participate in making the future of waste management and recycling.
Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada underlined the keenness of the ministry on holding the conference for its utmost importance in the lives of all living things on the planet and its direct impact on the sustainable development.
Addressing the opening session of the hybrid conference, al-Sada said that the conference will discuss over two days several topics related to waste management and recycling through presentations, workshops and discussion panels.
The topics include circular economy, integration between the public and private sectors, modern technologies for converting waste into energy, research and development in the field of waste, food waste, smart management of waste collection and transportation, waste and challenges in light of the coronavirus pandemic, recycling and other topics related to the management of recycling and treating waste of various kinds.
He said that the ministry, within the framework of its strategic plan, is concerned with preparing the necessary policies and strategies and developing plans for waste management in the country, in order to ensure the preservation of the health and safety of the society and the improvement of the quality of life, in co-ordination with the competent authorities.
He noted that the Waste Recycling and Treatment Department supervises the solid waste treatment plant, its transfer stations, and the sanitary landfills for waste and recycling in accordance with international specifications and standards.
The department also develops the necessary administrative plans for solid waste treatment to ensure the preservation of public health and safety.
Al-Sada indicated that the ministry established the largest waste treatment centre in the Middle East in 2011.
The centre treats 2,300 tonnes of household waste and produces 50 megawatts of electrical energy.
In 2020, the Center produced more than 30,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser and generated about 269,000 megawatts/hour of electric power, and more than 33mn cu m of biogas, in addition to processing more than 30,000 tonnes of car tyres in each of the Umm Al Afai and Rawdat Rashid landfills.
The centre also recycled about 420,000 tonnes of construction waste.
In 2019, the ministry, represented by the Public Hygiene Department, launched an integrated programme for sorting and recycling waste in Qatar aims to reduce the amount of waste and economically benefit from waste recycling and achieve sustainable development.
