Ambitious Emirati plans to reduce the use of landfills and treat 75% of "solid"

Waste ... a problem without solutions threatening the world

Waste production is expected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050. From the source

The world's cities produced more than 2 million tons of waste in 2016, according to the World Bank.

Waste production is expected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050 as a result of the growth of the global population and the size of cities, a big problem that appears to be without radical solutions.

Proper and safe disposal of waste is a very costly and complicated process, and this includes collection, transportation, burying, recycling, wastewater treatment, monitoring and regulation.

Correct waste management consumes about 25% -50% of municipal budgets, but the lack of funding and the absence of legal systems lead to the wrong treatment of waste, which turns into a major problem threatening sustainability.

The landfill problem

Most of the waste is currently disposed of in landfills, and this approach has several drawbacks, such as occupying large areas and becoming an environmental threat.

It represents a source of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, in addition to polluting the air and groundwater.

Non-biodegradable waste, such as electronics, batteries, glass and plastics, is an additional threat in landfills.

Its recycling rates are close to zero outside the United States and Europe.

Large quantities of plastic, which accounts for about 12% of total waste, and other non-degradable waste can be prevented from reaching landfills or rivers and oceans.

The burning of waste, whether in landfills or elsewhere, is another big problem.

Research indicates that 40% of waste is burned globally, which causes air pollution in addition to lung diseases and others.

Waste production

Different countries depend on various policies to control the production of garbage at all stages and up to its disposal. Campaigns include educating citizens about the need to reduce waste production, developing infrastructure and developing laws governing this field.

In the UAE, for example, ambitious plans have been approved to reduce the use of landfills, to reach 75% of solid waste treatment by 2021. With work also to exploit waste in power generation, as part of a broader government strategy to shift towards a circular economy.

Examples of elements of this strategy include planning to open the first waste-to-energy plant in Sharjah in 2021, and using camel dung to produce fuel in a cement factory in Ras Al Khaimah.

Converting waste into energy

Technical progress contributes to the promotion of waste-to-energy initiatives that support the circular economy, and this encourages the treatment of different types of waste.

Most of the initiatives rely on burning waste to convert it into electrical energy, heat and fuel.

However, this approach suffers from some drawbacks, such as the production of toxic gases and the waste of reusable materials.

And there are promising technologies, including the catalytic cold transformation process, rapid gasification system, and organic vertical growth systems, that may provide energy for future waste treatment plants, reducing the need for waste incineration.

Use of robots

Sorting is the most difficult stage of correct garbage handling.

This task is performed by low-wage workers in developing countries.

Sorting technology began to be used simultaneously with the development of robotics.

Helsinki-based Zen Robotics is using robots to sort metal and wood from garbage, and another Swedish company is using a combination of infrared and air currents to sort plastic from organic waste.

Blockchain technology

A large part of the waste problem relates to the tendency of developed countries to export their waste to developing countries.

But this doesn't solve the problem, it just takes it elsewhere.

The Canadian company, Plasticbank, uses "blockchain" technology to encourage customers to recycle their plastic waste by exchanging it for secure "blockchain" tokens that they can use to purchase various goods.

Then the company recycles the plastic and turns it into various products.

Companies participating in this initiative can use blockchain technology to track their investments and encourage others to join.

In the house and in the city

Traditional litter boxes have no place in future homes.

Because the disposal of waste will begin at home by analyzing the garbage into its chemical compounds using the «Infinecycle» technology.

Then nanorobots secrete these microelectronic compounds and assemble them to be ready for reuse in industrial applications.

Electronics kiosks

Electronics recycling kiosks have already begun to be launched in the United States of America. They are run by private companies such as ECO ATM, which offer a solution to recycling electronics, preventing it from reaching landfills.

They are renewed and recycled to be used again.

So far, electronics recycling kiosks have saved 14 million devices before they reached landfills.

Smart litter boxes

Smart garbage bins use robots, sensors, cameras and artificial intelligence to determine the type of waste, whether it is glass, plastic or paper.

When full, alert the waste collection company.

These bins solve the problem of sorting and collect data, which supports the development of smart waste disposal systems.

The Bain-e initiative is a case in point.

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