Jebel Ali Freezone (Jafza) has cut its landfill waste by 37% in just nine months this year, through a new partnership with Imdaad, a Dubai-based company specialising in sustainable facilities management. 

 

The significant reduction in landfill waste is thanks to an innovative new Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plant, which uses general leftover waste from the material recovery facility to power industrial furnaces instead of fossil fuels.

 

The RDF plant was built by Jafza and Imdaad under a joint venture entity called FARZ, founded in 2020 at the National Industries Park in Jebel Ali. FARZ initially treated up to 1,200 tonnes of waste per day, recovering 12-15% as recyclable materials and sending the rest to landfills. With the new RDF plant, it now processes and converts an additional 150 tonnes of waste daily into clean energy for industrial applications and manufacturing. 

 

Achievements

Since January this year, the initiative has:

•Redirected 37% of waste on average

•Generated 312 million kWh of renewable energy, sufficient to power thousands of homes.

•Saved over 201,137 trees saved by reducing CO2 emissions.

•Conserved 2.2 million cubic metres of landfill space, alleviating environmental impact.

 

Imdaad and Jafza aim to divert over 80% of waste from landfills by 2026, with the full integration of FARZ into the waste management system at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. This is part of a multi-year contract with DP World, aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability in the UAE's logistics sector.

 

Circular economy

Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer, Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, said: “At DP World, sustainability is central to our operations. Transitioning to a circular economy helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and ensures that even waste becomes a resource. This partnership with Imdaad reflects our shared commitment to innovation, investment and sets new benchmarks for environmental responsibility, in line with the UAE’s goals. As the UAE positions itself as a global leader in sustainable development, projects like FARZ exemplify how private sector collaboration can deliver scalable solutions to complex challenges.”

 

Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer, Imdaad, said: “This initiative exemplifies our commitment to the UAE's sustainability goals, transforming waste into clean energy for a myriad of industries and significantly reducing environmental impact. We are proud to collaborate with DP World and Jafza to create innovative, sustainable solutions that contribute to our nation's environmental and economic well-being."

 

Environmental sustainability

The integration signifies a crucial step towards a circular economy model, where waste generated in the free zone and DP World sites is collected by Imdaad and transported to FARZ for recovery.  The energy produced by the RDF plant can power the facility itself, be transported for industrial use, or stored for other applications. By reducing landfill waste and creating energy alternatives, the plant enhances environmental sustainability and supports economic resilience.

 

DP World operates similar waste management initiatives globally. At Santos Port in Brazil, DP World has implemented a zero-waste strategy, ensuring that all waste is either recycled, composted or used for energy recovery. In Mexico, DP World has developed a circular waste management system in partnership with Regenera, where used tires are transformed into alternative fuels for industrial applications.--TradeArabia News Service