NMWC sets up GCC's first plastic recycling plant

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MUSCAT -- National Mineral Water Company (NMWC)National Mineral Water Company (NMWC) SAOG has established the region's first $26 million PET recycling plant in its bid to become carbon-neutral. Known as Horizon Technologies FZE (HTF), the state-of-the-art PET recycling plant set up in Fujairah (UAE) can recycle 20,000 tonnes of used PET bottles per year, Pankaj Chugh, General Manager, NMWCNMWC, said at a press conference here yesterday. Initially, the company will place 20 huge PET disposal bins at housing and commercial complexes, colleges, restaurants and commercial institutions in Oman. The company has already recycled 25 tonnes of PET bottles so far.

As the awareness and collection increases, the number of bins will be increased in order to reduce the carbon footprint, said Pankaj. On an average, 8,000 tonnes of PET bottles are used in Oman per year. In the GCC as whole, around 200,000 tonnes of PET waste is generated. Nida Helou, Manager, Environment Society of Oman, (ESO), said "we are pleased to join efforts with TanufTanuf to expand ESO's recycling project. Recycling saves raw materials, water and energy and hence contributes to minimising our ecological footprint". The plastic recycling project assumes significance in view of the fact that until recently PET bottles found their way to landfills, and occupied considerable space as they take more than 100 years to degrade.

"Recycling one tonne of PET saves about 5700 KWH of electricity and about 700 gallons of oil. For example, an empty 1.5 litre TanufTanuf bottle, if recycles, will save enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for five hours", said Pankaj. As TanufTanuf entered its 30th year, the company, began giving something back to society in terms of establishing this unique recycling plant, said Pankaj in response to a query. In recent years, recycling has gained considerable impetus in regional and international communities due to its proven results of preserving forests, conserving resources and reducing pollution and solid waste. Pankaj said industry and the environment are closely interlinked and we are proud to be working with ESO to increase awareness on the importance of recycling plastic.

Nida said ESO launched a paper recycling programme last year and placed many recycling bins in schools in Muscat with an estimated number of 13,000 students participating in the initiative. When you recycle paper or plastic, you are taking a step away from yourself and begin to think about your community, country and the Earth as a whole, taking a proactive step to preserving the environment for future generations, say experts. A huge amount of waste is generated everyday and most of the material thrown away -- such as cardboard boxes; plastic and glass bottles, aluminium and steel cans, cooking oil, and office paper -- is recyclable.

The local community and every individual is a vital partner in the efforts to reduce the environmental impact of day-to-day life and the TanufTanuf's outstanding initiative proves NMWCNMWC is committed to being good stewards of the environment and the economy. TanufTanuf plans also expand the plastic recycling programme in near future and looks forward to working alongside the broader Omani community to help retain Oman's natural beauty while supporting the global 'green' effort', said Pankaj in response to a question by the Observer.

Government institutions are also taking a keener interest in waste recycling. In November last year, Muscat Municipality initiated paper recycling programme. As per the project, school books, notebooks and paper used in different student activities will be recycled. The project, in association with the Ministry of Education and ESO, was first launched in six schools in Muscat, and in the wilayats of Seeb and Bausher.

By Hasan Kamoonpuri

© Oman Daily Observer 2008