Abu Dhabi is set to issue a new law penalizing those who randomly dump waste in the city as part of a crackdown against littering which officials say has hurt the aesthetic image of the capital, a newspaper reported on Sunday.
The new law follows the completion of a major project involving the construction of a massive underground waste disposal system on par with that used in many advanced countries. It also comes amidst plans to impose fees on local companies in return for government waste disposal services.
The waste management centre at the Abu Dhabi Municipality said it had completed the designation of 40 waste collection points through the city of nearly one million people in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi food control authority and other government agencies. It said the law on “random” waste disposal would be soon presented to the Abu Dhabi executive council for approval.
In a statement carried by the semi official daily Alittihad, the centre said those who do not abide by the new law would be fined when it is enforced.
“Fines will range between Dh500 for individual offenders and a large sum of money for violating companies,” said Majid Ali Almansouri, the centre’s director.
“The violating company could also have its licence suspended and its waste vehicle impounded…employees at the centre will be given powers to seize offenders when the law is enforced.”
He said proposed fines would range between Dh500 for throwing waste from the car to Dh5,000-10,000 for random waste dumping by major companies.
In comments early this year, the municipality said it would soon start taxing local firms for waste disposal services within a plan aimed at easing the financial burden on the government and cutting waste dumping.
The plan, dubbed Nadhafa (cleanliness) will involve a fee of Dh225 per each tonne of waste produced by public and private establishments operating in the oil-rich emirate, according to the official.
“The plan is the first of its kind to be enforced in Abu Dhabi,” said Hamad Al-amiri, director of the Waste Disposal Centre at the Municipality.
“It is designed to cut the quantity of waste produced in the emirate, ease the financial burden of waste disposal and ensure safe treatment and disposal of waste to avert any damage to the environment.”
His figures showed waste disposal costs government coffers in excess of Dh1.5 billion a year at a rate of Dh500 per tonne.
The plan and the proposed fines follow the completion of a major underground waste disposal system in the capital to replace the traditional waste bins.
At least 400 electro-hydraulic bins had been placed in various locations in the capital but they have not been used it pending the completion of other measures, including the import of waste vehicles that are compatible with this system.
The project covers all areas in the city and each bin has a capacity of nearly 20 tonnes of waste to be placed and handled underground.
“The new project will reduce the cost of transporting waste from the city to the waste disposal centre by at least 25 per cent,” a Municipality official said.
“It is part of plans to introduce advanced waste management system in Abu Dhabi….this will largely contribute to eliminating foul smell and scattering of paper and waste at present waste bin sites.”
A study published in the Capital recently showed Abu Dhabi, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, also has one of the highest wasting rates, with each person dumping an average 4.2 kg of waste every day compared with only around 1.5 kg in the developed countries.
According to the waste management centre, the new system removes many of the hazards traditionally associated with waste left outside premises, fly tipping and foraging by street cats. The system has a lockable receiver mechanism making it inaccessible to anyone who is does not have the key to open the unit.
"This is part of our comprehensive efforts to move towards an integrated waste management and to create a better environment for residents, visitors and the business community in the Emirate,” Al Mansouri said.
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