The Food Chain

Of the 30,000 litres of waste grease collected in Dubai, just 10,000 ends up at the Al Aweer treatment plant. fmME looks at Dubai Municipality’s new grease waste regulations and the FM challenges of a food outlet

Dubai Municipality has issued new regulations regarding the treatment of waste oil in Dubai. In partnership with the Al Serkal Group, the DM has stated that only authorised waste companies are to collect grease trap waste from food outlets and must now dispose of it in the new Envirol treatment facility set up in Al Aweer.

The launch comes after the Municipality found that of the 25000 to 30000 gallons of grease being produced daily only 10000 gallons were reaching the Al Aweer plant. Most of it flows into sewage lines, blocking sewers and polluting the water.

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Time to play by the rules
The new requirements state that all authorised waste management collection agencies must issue a coupon to each restaurant which it cleans a grease trap for.

“The coupons state the name of the restaurant and kitchen, the number of grease traps they have and how much waste they deposited,” explained Envirol Plant Manager, Elham Pourtangestani, at a press launch in Dubai.

“This allows us to see exactly how many customers pass through the restaurant each day against how much oil the restaurant disposes of, helping us track illegal waste disposal.

“Restaurants, kitchens and the food production industry need to be more careful about this type of waste. At the moment maybe only 30%-40% are following these rules and regulations,” she added.

Companies have also been asked to install GPS tracking devices to vehicles collecting and disposing of waste for location tracking purposes.

The regulations have also been put in place to support Dubai’s sustainability initiatives. Once the grease reaches the centre it will be treated and turned into irrigation water, bio diesel, clean oil and fertiliser for re-use in other areas.

Ajay Kumar, senior manager, operations, Dulsco Waste Management Services, a company that carries restaurants among its list of clientele, said that these measures would help to bring in higher efficiencies in waste management.

“Restaurants and food outlets generate a great deal of food residues which are usually washed out through the drain to main sewer lines. Sewage with such residues are usually high in oil content and are unfit to be treated in available sewage treatment plants.

“To collect such waste, food outlets install grease traps, which require frequent cleaning in order to be functional. If these grease traps are not cleaned regularly, the residues will reach sewer lines and damage very expensive sewage treatment plant equipment.”

Trashco has been operating in Dubai for 34 years. Simone Macatangay, business development manager, says it is imperitive that all waste management service providers abide by the new regulations.

“Together, client and service provider must work hand in hand so that the waste is collected, transported and disposed of with very minimal or nil impact to the environment,” he said. The municipality has set standards to ensure this process [operates effectively].

The coupon system will be implemented immediately and authorised waste management companies are expected to start using them. More time is being allowed for the installation of the GPS tracking devices.