Construction-related waste reaches 6.3 million tons in Dubai in first half of 2008

Prof. Dr Muhammed D. Al Azzawi, a member of the Emirate Energy Award Committee, an initiative by the Dubai Quality Group, explains the situation as follows:

'In general, waste problems occur due to errors in the developing process, including lack of connectivity and understanding between the designer and project executive, not knowing what the project manager wants, inability to manage the project, bad design, and lack of skillful and efficient workers, or the ability to train efficient workers to push projects into completion without problems.'

Dr Al Azzawi added, 'Waste could result from flaws in design. While it is possible to continue work on the project if the design is flawed, it would not be enough, which could ruin part of, or even the whole, project. Waste could also result from the inefficiency of the designer or lack of self-confidence in bringing out the project as required by the developer, the engineer and the project holder.'

In Dr Al Azzawi's opinion, project holders should provide suitable leadership to render projects successful according to scientific methods that go hand-in-hand with project holders' needs, through constant guidance to project workers. He also stated that everyone involved should contribute to the decision making process, and that problems relating to projects should be resolved in accordance with health and safety measures and the ideals of environment preservation and on-going growth.

According to statistics, construction-related waste for the first half of 2008 is reported to be 6.3 million tons in Dubai alone, with 35 million tons of waste discarded daily. Reports from the Dubai Office of Waste Management state that in 2007 the total amount of solid waste from real estate projects reached 3.3 million tons, a 13.7% increase on 2006 figures. So far, the amount of waste produced in the first half of the current year is already double that produced in 2007, and if things continue at the current rate, the amount of solid waste produced in 2008 will be double the amount from last year.

The individual's share of construction-related waste in the UAE ranged between 1.8 and 2.2 kilograms. Many observers attribute this to high income levels, the diverse basic needs of everyday life, and the increase in spending rates in the country, which amounted to Dhs320m, according to recent statistics made available by the Office of Economic Planning in Abu Dhabi.

This rate presents a potential danger to the economy because it consumes 50 percent of the UAE's total output due to individuals' daily spending, amounting to Dhs100, compared to Dhs13 in other Arab countries.