Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of waste that will ultimately reach landfills. However, an alternative solution is to turn waste into energy, experts at the 20th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2018) said.

Towards that end, officials at the Emirates Waste to Energy Company showcased a number of projects that are set to secure the green energy future of the region.

Chief among these is the Sharjah Waste to Energy facility, which will process more than 37.5 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) per hour to generate electricity sustainably. The plant is expected to come on stream by 2021 and will divert 300,000 tonnes of municipal waste away from landfills every year by processing this waste to generate 30MW of energy and power up to 28,000 homes.

The facility is a joint venture between Bee'ah and Masdar. Operating at full capacity, it will contribute significantly to reaching Sharjah's zero-waste-to-landfill goal. The facility is located adjacent to Bee'ah's existing Material Recovery Facility in Sharjah, where the emirate's waste is collected, sorted, recycled and, where necessary, sent to land?lls.

According to the World Bank's Nature International Journal of Science, municipal solid waste generation in cities is set to reach 2.2 billion tonnes a year by 2025, increasing by 70 per cent from 2012 levels.

"The Emirates Waste to Energy Company is redefining the landscape of clean energy in the UAE, especially with the establishment of our flagship project, the Sharjah Waste to Energy Facility," said Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Bee'ah.

"As the region's first waste-to-energy plant, this facility demonstrates an innovative approach to commercialising energy solutions, while ensuring sustainable growth. It will also facilitate the achievement of the UAE's Vision 2021 targets of deriving 24 per cent of energy from clean sources, and of diverting 75 per cent of waste away from landfills."

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