UAE | General
World Trade Centre adopts tough guidelines to reduce waste
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is adopting wide-ranging procedures designed to slash waste and conserve utilities under the "reduce, recycle and reuse" philosophy
- By A Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 19, 2001
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is adopting wide-ranging procedures designed to slash waste and conserve utilities under the "reduce, recycle and reuse" philosophy. Last year it became a member of the Emirates Environmental Group, an organisation dedicated to increasing public awareness of environmental issues. General Manager Wahid Attalla said, "The DWTC is committed to incorporating business practices that promote sustainable development. We recognise we have a corporate responsibility to protect and preserve the earth's resources through measures that minimise waste and promote environmentally-sound principles.
"To that end, every division is currently reviewing its day-to-day activities to ensure they respect the environment and are in harmony with environmentally conscientious practices." The DWTC's reduce, reuse, recycle philosophy is being communicated to corporate tenants in the tower and residents in hotel apartments. With more than 1,500 employees working with 100 companies in the tower and about 1,150 tenants in the hotel apartments, the potential impact is considerable.
Among the measures the DWTC is adopting, is a plan to use recycled paper for its stationery, including letterheads and business cards. In addition, it provides more than 20,000 tonnes of waste annually to Coastal Waste Collection for recycling. The DWTC has adopted a variety of methods to conserve energy. Electricity is saved through the use of appliances that have automatic sleep-modes when not in use, and by routinely switching out lights during off-hours.
"We have been recycling materials since 1995, but we are now aggressively seeking to reduce the amount of waste produced throughout the entire organisation," Attalla said. DWTC will soon expand its recycling system. It will place specialised bins for the collection of recyclable products (paper, newsprint, plastics and cans) throughout the premises.
"Obviously, there are a number of ways we can reduce waste. Exhibitors and visitors to exhibitions will soon be encouraged to deposit their name badges in special bins to enable us to re-use these products regularly. With more than 70,000 visitors at an event like Gitex alone, this will reduce considerable amounts of waste and will prove to be a cost-effective measure as well.
"Participating in the Emirates Environmental Group has enabled us to help inform all our staff of the importance of behaving proactively in their daily pursuits - whether at home or in the workplace, in a manner that respects the environment.
By enabling employees to join in the activities of the Emirates Environmental Group we actively support its mission and promote a 3-R approach to personal and professional conduct," Attalla said. Habiba Sultan Al Marashi, chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, said, "The group is pleased to have the active support of the DWTC.
It is a large organisation that can help us tremendously in our efforts to create awareness among citizens in the UAE, and its influence in the corporate arena cannot be underestimated. We hope many other organisations in the region will follow its example and join us as we strive to make the UAE a world leader in adopting environmentally-sound methods in all its activities."
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