ABU DHABI, June 25th, 2013 (WAM) -- A delegation from the Abu Dhabi Government recently concluded a visit to the Netherlands and Germany to examine "best practices" in waste management through a series of formal meetings and field visits.

The delegation, which was headed by Dr. Mohamed Yousef Al Madfaei, Executive Director, Integrated Environment Policy and Planning Sector, Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD), brought together representatives from EAD, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), the General Secretariat of the Executive Council (GSEC), the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), the Centre for Waste Management, Abu Dhabi (CWM) and the Department of Economic Development (DED).

The Netherlands and Germany, who are considered two of the leading countries in the field of waste management, offered the UAE delegation a forum to discuss the Waste Management Strategy for Abu Dhabi Emirate, as well as the sharing of knowledge and expertise. The delegation was able to witness a demonstration of the latest practices and techniques for waste management, reduction of waste at source, sorting, collection, transportation, processing and recycling, as well as management of all types of waste - hazardous, non-hazardous and medical.

In the Netherlands, the delegation visited AEB, considered one of the largest waste-to-energy conversion plants in the world. The delegation also visited "Zavin" a facility for the thermal treatment of medical waste.

Abdullah Hamdan Naqbi, UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands, hosted a dinner in honour of the delegation in Amsterdam and praised the visit and its importance in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

In Germany, the delegation was received by the State Secretary of Saxony?s Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture ? Dr. Fritz Jaeckel, at Dresden?s State Chancellery. Here, the delegation viewed a demonstration of the best technologies and policies adopted by Germany in the field of integrated waste management. The delegation also visited the city?s sewage company and sludge tower plant, where a workshop was held with the attendance of executive presidents and general managers of major institutions involved in waste management in the state.

During the visit, the general legal framework for waste management in Germany and the European Union was also reviewed in addition to the cost of waste management and tariff implications for citizens, which covers the costs of investment in the sector.

The delegation was also briefed on the methods and systems of waste collection in the city of Dresden, partnerships with the private sector, in addition to management of hazardous waste and their disposal methods. The delegation also discussed the major challenges faced by Abu Dhabi in waste management and the basic elements of a general strategy for waste management.

The head of the delegation, Dr. Mohamed Yousef Al Madfaei, stressed the importance of cooperation and knowledge exchange with entities known to adopt best international best practices to further strengthen the process of development, integration and implementation of the Waste Management Strategy for Abu Dhabi.

He said, "The presence of representatives of various entities from Abu Dhabi and on the federal level is testimony that the Abu Dhabi Government prioritises the issue of waste management and demonstrates its commitment to adopting best practices." He also stressed the need to benefit from global experience and leading technologies to put Abu Dhabi?s waste management at an international level.

Faray Al Mazrouei, Director of Operations, Infrastructure and Environment Department, Secretariat of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, highlighted the UAE?s and Abu Dhabi Emirate?s commitment to attract and apply best international practices in various disciplines which are designed to ensure the maximum utilisation of the integration of infrastructure and its resulting positive impact to be observed both now and in the long term.

"The visit formed a fruitful addition which enhances existing expertise in the Emirate, and it will play a great role in helping us adopt best international practice," said Al Mazrouei.

Eng. Hani Hosni, Acting Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at the Center for Waste Management - Abu Dhabi said that "The visit was a real opportunity for comparison of standards in the field of policy, legislation and procedures for operational standards and performance indicators in waste management. It was a good opportunity for us to exchange ideas through communication with government agencies and major German and Dutch companies specialised in this field and discuss ways to cooperate with them. "Dahi Al Mansouri, Acting Director of the Department of Studies at the Department of Economic Development, stressed the importance of economic integration with the environmental aspects, and promote investment opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of recycling industries and waste treatment in order to preserve the emirate's resources and promote economic diversification policies pursued by the Emirate.

The overall strategy for waste management in Abu Dhabi is to convert more than 85% of the waste produced daily from the existing controlled landfills to different tracks, including sorting, re-use, recycling and converting remaining waste into energy by burning.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.