Heng and Kipp from Keppel Seghers explain how waste is treated at the state-of-the-art DSWMC facility near Mesaieed.
By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Segregation at source for domestic waste management is very much feasible in Qatar, says an expert.
“Some countries have implemented about 15 to 20 different sources of collection. For Qatar, it (waste) is perfectly feasible to separate,” Stefan Kipp, regional director (Middle East and North Africa) at Keppel Seghers told Gulf Times.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a media tour on Sunday at the government-owned Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) near Mesaieed, operated by Keppel Seghers.
Kipp said segregation at source is proven to be the most economic and suitable system, using up to “two or three-system collection.”
However, he noted that the Qatar government should define what it wants to do.
“I can say there is this option, having a segregation is truly something that I would say it is worth doing for Qatar, for any country in the world,” said Kipp.
He cited the system being implemented in Singapore that can be followed although Qatar can also study other formats used in other countries.
While the Qatar government is evaluating the possibilities to either expand the waste management facility near Mesaieed or find a new place to treat domestic wastes, Kipp believes “it is going to be this (segregation at source) way.
He said establishing the DSWMC is the first step. The state-of-the-art facility treats about 2,300 of the total 2,700 tonnes of solid wastes the country produces daily. The remaining 400 tonnes of surplus wastes go to landfills, it is learnt.
“Paper waste is absolutely not separated here or very few; textiles, also, something that can be very well recycled, plastics and packaging, so there is a lot of possibilities but the government has to take the initiative and say this is the way we want to do,” he added.
Keppel Seghers officials expect wastes to grow due to the rapidly increasing population.
Oon Ee Heng, general manager at DSWMC, noted that wastes in Qatar increase at about 7% every year. In 10 years, he said the amount of waste in Qatar could reach about 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day.
Kipp also vouched on the reliability of the current facility, which was designed for expansion saying the plant is the first of its kind in the Middle East.
DSWMC combines the maximised recycling of used goods, water re-use, sorting and separate waste collection and uses a well organised and controlled waste stream which focuses on waste recovery.
The facility operates on a 1.5km x 2km site and currently uses about 35% of the total allotted area. It also has a permanent accommodation and facilities including a mosque for about 200 staff, a canteen and prayer room for truck drivers, workshops, garages and administration building.
“It is a landmark for Qatar, it is a plant that has proven the vision of the government of Qatar,” said Kipp.