IMDAAD, a leading provider of integrated facilities management (FM) solutions in the GCC, has recently concluded a landmark long-term agreement for waste management with the Economic Zones World (EZW).

EZW is the global developer and operator of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks under the Dubai Property Group, whose current portfolio includes Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), TechnoPark and Dubai Auto Zone.

The agreement signed by Jamal Abdullah Lootah, CEO of Imdaad, and Salma Ali Saif bin Hareb, CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) and EZW calls for setting up a Dh100-million ($27.22 million) technologically advanced material recovery facility at TechnoPark in Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE, to recover the recyclables from solid waste collected by Imdaad.

According to the agreement, Imdaad will set up a waste sorting facility for the management of solid waste. To be constructed over an area of 60,000 sq m, the plant will have the capability to recover maximum recyclables generated from the Jebel Ali area including the World Expo 2020 venue. Work on the plant is expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year. Imdaad has already started the initial processes such as plant design. The cutting-edge plant will have an initial operating capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day, with a possibility to double the operation in the future. It will cater not only to waste collected by Imdaad but will also be open to other waste collection companies.

Bin Hareb comments: “The establishment of this facility will augment Economic Zones World’s own efforts in moving towards greater sustainability under the Green Economy initiative announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. By providing Jebel Ali-based companies access to waste recycling at their doorstep, we are ensuring a cleaner and greener economy for our future generations.”

The new state-of-the-art waste material recovery facility will be another significant milestone in Imdaad’s partnership with EZW, which will reflect the synergy and commitment of both organisations towards sustainable development of the UAE. Imdaad collected 300,000 tonnes of waste in 2013 alone, which has led it to build a recycling plant of this scale.

With the building of this material recovery plant, TechnoPark will become the first economic zone not only in the UAE but also in the region to have such a pioneering facility which will help recover the recyclables from the waste generated by all companies based in Jebel Ali including in Jafza, where it will cater to the waste management needs of the multinational companies established within the free zone who are eager to cut down their carbon footprints with effective management of waste.

Commenting on the agreement, Lootah says: “The long-term agreement with EZW is a major win for Imdaad, once again reinforcing our position as a leading FM company in the UAE. We are confident that this will be a major stepping stone for us as a strategic partner for the future venue of the World Expo 2020 in terms of integrated facilities management. By setting up a modern waste recycling facility within TechnoPark, we will be able to achieve maximum waste diversion, which will in turn reduce the waste being sent to Dubai Municipality landfill.”

Aside from saving the landfill area and the cost of transportation, the eco-friendly material recycling facility in TechnoPark will tremendously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve fuel, recycle material, spread awareness and will act as a platform to raise awareness among the UAE’s residents. The facility will be open for school and university students so that they can get greater insight about waste management technology in the region. In addition, the plant will have a next-generation research and development (R&D) department, which will conduct research on the latest technologies for effective management and treatment of waste.

“The material recovery facility will be our first step towards the vision of completing the waste management cycle to enhance our capabilities in terms of supporting the region’s drive towards a sustainable environment. Taking advantage of the innovative technologies, Imdaad will explore avenues for setting up of such waste recycling plants across the UAE,” says Lootah.

Lootah was recently awarded with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ during this year’s edition of the Facilities Management Middle East (fmME) Awards, which was held at the Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa. Lootah was recognised for his outstanding contributions in the implementation of best practices that have now become benchmarks for the FM industry in the region.

fmME Awards are given away to individuals, projects and companies for their exemplary contributions to the Middle East’s FM industry. Aside from the 12 award categories that cover all aspects of this fast-growing sector, the seventh edition of the award introduced three new categories – ‘CSR Initiative of the Year’, ‘Unsung Hero of the Year’, and ‘FM Executive of the Year’.

This year, fmME Awards received more than 100 nominations in 15 different categories. The winners were decided by an independent panel of expert judges, ensuring integrity of the awards and at the same time, acknowledge those who truly deserve them.

Imdaad has gained a strong reputation in the region as an adopter and implementer of the latest FM technologies and practices. The company acquires eco-friendly equipment and prioritises sustainability across all its operations. It also conducts recycling training for its clients, corporate partners and staff, in addition to providing free recycling bins in certain projects where it handles waste management and collection services.

Jafza, the EZW’s flagship operation, is home to more than 7,300 multinational companies, including more than 120 of the Global Fortune 500 enterprises.

TechnoPark is the company’s dedicated initiative in the region’s core economic sectors – water, health, energy, engineering and logistics. It focuses on nurturing business ideas/new technologies in the above fields, which could be quickly translated into real-world industrial operations.