“Environment” requires cement companies to use treated waste fuel

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has obligated cement companies to use 10% or more of their energy needs from waste treatment plant fuel, if available in the country, starting next year.

In a recent decision, the Ministry confirmed that all cement factories that use coal in their operational processes to produce energy must commit to using no less than 10% of their total energy needs from the substitute resulting from solid waste treatment plants in the country, starting in 2020. While observing the quality of life around.

Resolution No. (98) of 2019, signed by the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, stipulated that the competent authority in each emirate should determine the requirements for transporting alternative fuels, while prohibiting the import of all types of alternative fuels resulting from waste treatment operations, and obligating The competent authority to follow up on the implementation of this decision within the geographical scope of the emirate. The Ministry indicated that the decision aims to support industries and initiatives aimed at treating municipal solid waste generated in the country, and exploiting it to obtain products that will benefit the national economy, in addition to protecting the environment, human health, and sustainable development.

The provisions of this decision apply to all cement factories that use coal in their operational processes to produce energy, and every provision that violates or conflicts with its provisions shall be repealed.

The decision defined municipal solid waste as “individual waste that arises from residential, commercial, professional, industrial, and other sources.” It also defined alternative fuels as “treated municipal solid waste after sorting it and removing the non-combustible parts, which is waste used in cement kilns for co-combustion with coal, or Other types of fuel.

The decision took into account Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 regarding the competencies of ministries and powers of ministers and its amendments, Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 regarding environmental protection and development, its amendments, and its executive regulations, and Federal Law No. (12) of 2018 regarding integrated waste management. Cabinet Resolution No. (32) of 2017 regarding the organizational structure of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

The Ministry had issued Resolution No. (21) of 2019 regarding the use of recycled materials from construction and demolition waste in road and infrastructure projects, which obligated contracting companies to meet the requirements for sorting and collecting construction and demolition waste, so that it is processed for its specified uses, while it is not permissible to deal with it. Waste, collection, transportation and treatment shall be carried out only by the concerned authority in the emirate.

The decision stated that construction and demolition waste transferred to the waste treatment plant must be used in road construction and infrastructure construction.