emirates7 - Jebel Ali Freezone (Jafza) has achieved a 37% reduction in landfill waste over the first nine months of this year through a partnership with Imdaad, a Dubai-based sustainable facilities management company. This milestone marks significant progress in advancing the UAE’s circular economy goals.
The reduction is attributed to the innovative Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plant, which transforms residual waste from the material recovery facility into fuel for industrial furnaces, replacing fossil fuels. The RDF plant was established by Jafza and Imdaad through their joint venture, FARZ, founded in 2020 at the National Industries Park in Jebel Ali.
Initially, FARZ processed up to 1,200 tonnes of waste daily, recovering 12-15% as recyclables, with the remainder sent to landfills. The introduction of the RDF plant now converts an additional 150 tonnes of waste per day into clean energy for industrial use.
Since January, the initiative has diverted 37% of waste from landfills, produced 312 million kWh of renewable energy—enough to power thousands of homes—saved over 201,137 trees by reducing CO2 emissions, and conserved 2.2 million cubic metres of landfill space.
Jafza and Imdaad aim to divert more than 80% of waste from landfills by 2026, with plans to fully integrate FARZ into the waste management system at Jebel Ali Freezone. This effort is part of a multi-year agreement with DP World to enhance environmental sustainability in the UAE's logistics sector.
Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer of Parks and Zones at DP World GCC, highlighted the importance of sustainability in DP World's operations, emphasizing that transitioning to a circular economy reduces fossil fuel dependency and repurposes waste as a valuable resource. He noted that the partnership with Imdaad reflects shared commitments to innovation and environmental stewardship, aligning with the UAE's sustainability objectives.
Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer of Imdaad, underscored the initiative's contribution to transforming waste into clean energy for diverse industries, significantly mitigating environmental impact.
Globally, DP World implements similar waste management initiatives. At Santos Port in Brazil, the company follows a zero-waste strategy, ensuring waste is recycled, composted, or used for energy recovery. In Mexico, DP World collaborates with Regenera to convert used tires into alternative fuels for industrial applications.
The reduction is attributed to the innovative Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plant, which transforms residual waste from the material recovery facility into fuel for industrial furnaces, replacing fossil fuels. The RDF plant was established by Jafza and Imdaad through their joint venture, FARZ, founded in 2020 at the National Industries Park in Jebel Ali.
Initially, FARZ processed up to 1,200 tonnes of waste daily, recovering 12-15% as recyclables, with the remainder sent to landfills. The introduction of the RDF plant now converts an additional 150 tonnes of waste per day into clean energy for industrial use.
Since January, the initiative has diverted 37% of waste from landfills, produced 312 million kWh of renewable energy—enough to power thousands of homes—saved over 201,137 trees by reducing CO2 emissions, and conserved 2.2 million cubic metres of landfill space.
Jafza and Imdaad aim to divert more than 80% of waste from landfills by 2026, with plans to fully integrate FARZ into the waste management system at Jebel Ali Freezone. This effort is part of a multi-year agreement with DP World to enhance environmental sustainability in the UAE's logistics sector.
Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer of Parks and Zones at DP World GCC, highlighted the importance of sustainability in DP World's operations, emphasizing that transitioning to a circular economy reduces fossil fuel dependency and repurposes waste as a valuable resource. He noted that the partnership with Imdaad reflects shared commitments to innovation and environmental stewardship, aligning with the UAE's sustainability objectives.
Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer of Imdaad, underscored the initiative's contribution to transforming waste into clean energy for diverse industries, significantly mitigating environmental impact.
Globally, DP World implements similar waste management initiatives. At Santos Port in Brazil, the company follows a zero-waste strategy, ensuring waste is recycled, composted, or used for energy recovery. In Mexico, DP World collaborates with Regenera to convert used tires into alternative fuels for industrial applications.