Imdaad, a leading integrated facilities management company in the Middle East, has set up an innovative refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant within its material recovery facility, FARZ, located in the National Industries Park, Dubai, UAE.

The advanced RDF plant possesses the capacity to treat 300 tonnes of incombustible and unrecyclable waste and convert it into clean energy suitable for industrial use and manufacturing processes.

This will empower Imdaad and FARZ to divert a significant amount of municipal solid waste from landfills, aligning with the UAE’s larger environmental mission.

Established in 2020, FARZ can treat 1,200 tonnes of waste per day, of which 50 per cent are reclaimed as recyclable valuables. However, the remaining waste refuse is directed to the landfill, a statement from Imdaad said.

With the establishment of the advanced RDF facility at FARZ, the remnants of the recycled waste can now be converted into clean energy to power various industries, it added.

The clean energy generated can either be used to power the plant or easily be stored, transported, and supplied to power other industries, such as cement factories as an alternative to coal and other fossil fuels.

FARZ has one of the most efficient recovery rate of any materials recovery facility in the UAE. It has two separate lines, one to deal with household waste and the other focusing on commercial and industrial waste.

The plant uses an automated system to maximise the range of materials it can recover.

These materials are HDPE (high density polyethylene), PET, aluminium, ferrous materials, OCC and wood and PE bags.

Commenting on the project, Mahmood Rasheed, Chief Operating Officer, said: "Setting up the RDF plant is a remarkable achievement and an important addition to our waste management capabilities. It empowers us to make a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions at a time when the world is grappling with the adverse effects of climate change."