DOHA: Lana International jointly with the US-based LG&M has come out with a new proposal based on recycling for the treatment and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Qatar.
A delegation from LG&M Trading led by its president John B Laird is currently visiting Qatar to introduce the project and explore possibilities of setting up an industrial unit for recycling in the country with the support of the Qatar government.
Speaking at a press conference at the Diplomatic Club yesterday, John Laird said the team was planning to meet senior government officials to discuss the project. It is proposed jointly by Southern Recyling Inc, a US-based company specialising in waste management and LG&M Trading.
John H Lewis, vice president-engineering at Fulghum Industries who is part of the delegation, Svetlana Levitskaya, general manager, Lana International and Mazen Thabet, managing director, Zen Communications were also present at the press conference.
Traditionally, MSW is disposed on in two ways- landfill or incineration. These treatment have worked in the past , but for various reasons, primarily environmental, are no longer acceptable. Recycling is the most environment- friendly method of waste disposal, which turns materials that would otherwise turn waste into valuable resources, said John.
LG&M Trading jointly with Southern Recycling is in the process of setting up their first industrial unit in California, which will go operational in three months, added Lewis. Qatar will become the first country in the region to adopt the technology, if plans by the company to set up a recycling plant in Qatar by the end of next year is materialised, the officials said.
"We are planning to set up similar units in London, Toronto (Canada) and Germany. With our latest technology, we can assure 100 per cent recovery of wastes containing aluminum, plastic, paper etc. About 300,000 to 400,000 metric tones of waste is generated in Qatar every year, which can be effectively turned into useful products by the new technology," he added.
Recycling can create more jobs and reduce the need for land filling and incineration. It saves energy and prevents pollution caused by the extraction and processing of virgin materials and decrease emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. It also helps conserve natural resources such as timber, water and minerals.
Recycling is also more cost-effective compared to the costs involved in disposing of the waste by traditional methods and the one-way consumption of resources, the officials claimed. Asked about the expected cost of setting up a plant in Qatar, they said it could be calculated only after identifying the size, nature and requirements of the project.
The company adopts special techniques in the treatment of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) such as paint, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides to ensure that they will not pollute the recycled products. The officials cautioned against throwing out such hazardous materials in the trash and advised people reduce the amount of trash by reusing containers and products.
A detailed presentation on the project will be held at the Diplomatic Club on May 17 at 6pm. Senior Qatari officials including Ibrahim Al Haidoos, chairman, Central Municipal Council, are expected to attend the event.
© The Peninsula 2005
