Abu Dhabi: Up to 250 kilograms of food is discarded on average by individuals annually in the Middle East and North Africa region at a cost of over $60 billion (Dh220.34 billion), according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
This alarming issue will come up for discussion at EcoWaste, an annual conference on waste management in Abu Dhabi, which will turn the spotlight on innovative next-generation food waste management technology at its second edition in January 2015.
A key highlight of the international waste management exhibition will be the showcasing of Hong Kong based-GreenGood Oklin’s revolutionary composting machines that convert organic waste into high-grade compost within 24 hours, a press release issued by the organisers said on Wednesday.
The United Nation Environment Programme estimates that one-third of the food produced worldwide, valued at $1 trillion (Dh3.67 trillion), is discarded by consumers. Closer to home, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region relies on imports for over 50 per cent of its food but nearly 16 million tonnes of wheat go to waste every year, an amount that could feed up to 100 million people.
With figures suggesting that close to 40 per cent of the daily domestic waste produced by Abu Dhabi and Dubai residents consists of discarded food, managing organic waste is a growing problem in the UAE.
As part of its priority to address critical topics on recycling and effective waste collection, EcoWaste 2015 will highlight GreenGood Oklin’s food waste decomposition systems that can process between two to 500 tonnes of food waste per year.
The UAE is facing an uphill battle with waste management, particularly with the amounts of food that residents tend to discard. According to official figures, 39 per cent of the municipal waste generated by residents in Abu Dhabi is attributed to food waste, while residents in Dubai discard a staggering 38 per cent of food every day.
Trends do not normally change overnight and as the UAE looks to embark on new initiatives to divert waste from landfills, technology usually offers the best and quickest solutions. EcoWaste 2015 will aim to highlight such solutions for the overarching benefit of the region at large.
Running from January 19-22, EcoWaste, co-hosted by Masdar and Tadweer (Centre of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi), seeks holistic solutions for challenges in waste management. The initiative, organised by Reed Exhibitions, is expected to draw more than 2,000 buyers and key industry experts as well as 50 leading companies from all around the world to deliberate on international policies and best practices for ensuring a clean and green future.
