DUBAI, 4th June, 2017 (WAM) -- Dubai Municipality's Waste Management Department has launched a new initiative called, "Sustainable Homes with Intelligent Waste Management", aimed at processing waste at its source.

The project comes in line with the environmental goals of the National Agenda 2021 and achieving the National Index of transferring 75 percent of the waste produced in the Emirate of Dubai from the landfill for recycling, and also as a translation of the vision of Dubai Municipality in building a happy and sustainable city.

The implementation of the first phase of the project coincided with the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan, with the distribution of 13 thermal fertilizer containers for the production of organic compost to houses committed to waste sorting operations from its sources in areas that come under the 'My City, My Environment' project.

The container is an excellent tool to reduce organic waste without using an electrical source. It is made of plastic and its walls are perforated to allow air to enter the waste mixture. It is possible to get 1 cubic metre of organic fertilizer from about every 10 cubic meters of organic waste consisting of excess household food waste.

The Sustainable Waste Management Awareness Team from the Waste Management Department has conducted an awareness drive among homeowners and their families about the installation and use of thermal compost containers and on the importance of families' commitment to reducing waste, especially organic waste, which increases significantly during Ramadan because of its special nature related to food habits and shopping among the public.

Electronic 'awareness cards' were publicised on social networking sites aimed at highlighting the role of the family in reducing waste generation by following a number of sustainable environmental measures, from shopping to proper handling of household waste

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.