MME launches initiative to turn organic waste into fertiliser

DOHA: Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Public Parks Department, launched a nationwide initiative at Al Khor Park yesterday to turn food waste and tree leaves in to organic fertiliser with the help of a sophisticated recycling machine.

The Ministry plans to expand this initiative to other parts of the country by installing recycling machines in several places.

The initiative, “National Recycling Awareness (Tadweer), is being implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with Ras Laffan Power Company (RLPC) and Al Tayyar Company for Marketing and Event Management.

“The initiative aims at creating awareness about environment protection and sustainability among all segments of the community in a bid to preserve the natural resources and to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency,” said Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada, Assistant Undersecretary for Environment Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment while speaking at the launch ceremony.

He said that under the initiative,  the food waste and tree leaves will be turned into high quality organic compost and fodders adding that organic fertilisers will be used in greenery of the park in place of the chemical one.

“The initiative is based on Qatar National Vision 2030 which stresses that “environment development and economic growth are fundamental goals where one can not be sacrificed at the expense of other”, said Al Sada.

He said that Tadweer initiative’s vision is according to the national sustainability initiative that aims at recycling food waste and trees leaves turning them into organic compost for a healthy environment and green Qatar.

“Qatar has reached an advanced stage in waste management sector as there are four centres across the country to sort out domestic and solid waste on daily basis,” said Al Sada, adding that sorted waste are being send to the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre in Mesaieed for recycling.  He said that the Ministry supports any initiative regarding waste recycling as they are also useful on economical point of view saving huge money by reducing pressure on dumping waste operation. It is also helpful in reducing the carbon emission to protect the environment.

The sophisticated recycling machine is called Tadweer (which means recycling in Arabic).  “Tadweer” device is an innovative tool that recycles organic waste into eco-friendly organic composts that are useful for soil.

Initially two recycling devices will be set up at Al Khor Park with the capacity of 30kg waste in 20 hours, said  Mohammed Ali Al Khori, Director of Public Parks. He said that functions of the devices are grinding organic waste and initial drying, elimination harmful bacteria and final drying for fluid disposal.

The initiative was launched initially in Al Khor Park as it is one of the largest public parks in the country attracting up to 50,000 visitors at weekend producing huge quantity of food waste, said Hamad Al Bahr, Director of wast management plant at Mesaieed.