Why PRS in Middle East?

Many developments have been taking place in various parts of the region in terms of legislation and projects as part of the efforts to move towards a circular economy.

In 2021, the UAE Cabinet approved the UAE Circular Economy Policy, which identifies the optimal approach to the country's transition to a circular economy. 

The UAE Circular Economy Council convened its second meeting of 2022 in July, and approved 22 policies proposed by its subsidiary, the Circular Economy Policies Committee, that focus on accelerating the implementation of the circular economy model in the UAE in four main sectors of manufacturing, food, infrastructure and transport.

The Council also identified at least 16 circular economy activities that open a wealth of opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products, developing automated AI-enabled waste management solutions, and remanufacturing electronic waste.

The Committee continues its efforts to implement the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 through programmes and projects that are set to attract investments to this field and expand its infrastructure. 

A coalition formed in the UAE (2019) comprising government, NGOs, global and local private companies, has committed to tackling the issue of packaging waste pollution. The coalition signed a pledge with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) to develop a circular economy model to combat the issue of plastic and packaging waste pollution by improving collection in the UAE. Members of Coalition (Coalition of Innovation in Recycling towards a Closed Loop Economy) include BASF, Borouge, Tetra Pak, Majid Al Futtaim, Coca‑Cola, Dow, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, McDonald’s UAE, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Unilever and Emirates Nature-WWF.

In January 2022, Dubai approved the integrated waste management strategy for 2021-2041 period with a budget of AED74.5 billion ($20.4 billion). The Strategy, which seeks to encourage innovation in waste management, recycling and energy conversion, complements a range of projects adopted by The Executive Council of Dubai in the areas of sustainability, environmental conservation, quality of life development and building a sustainable future. 

In 2020, the National Waste Management Centre, Eastern Province Municipality and SIRC signed a tripartite MoU to start integrated waste management and waste recycling activities in the Eastern Province. Under the agreement, the three parties jointly work on the execution of the overall waste management strategy for the Eastern Province to achieve a set of strategic objectives for recycling by 2035. 

In line with the objectives of The National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) for a sustainable future, Oman be’ah’s strategic vision aims to diversify processes of waste management and promote the concept of a circular economy. Earlier this year, be'ah signed a memorandum of cooperation with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) to build a waste-to-energy plant in Barka. 

Certain waste recycling projects have been introduced in Oman. A major tyre recycling facility is being built at Sur Industrial City. In June, Sur said it had signed an OMR 83 million (€205 million) deal with Al Fairuz Projects and Investments to establish rubber powder production plant at the site, as per media reports. The facility will be developed in an area of 230,000 sqm and will adopt advanced tyre recycling technologies.