Inspections of liquid industrial waste disposal tightened

Dubai Municipality will carry out strict inspection campaigns in all establishments which produce liquid industrial waste in a bid to protect the environment.

It will also formulate comprehensive laws to regularise licensing, inspections, check ups and approval of the industrial units.

A recent decree (No. 8 of 2002) prohibits factories, carwash stations and other establishments from throwing out liquid waste without treating it.

They must conform to the standards set by the municipality and send it to the proper sewage system, irrigation network or to the sea.

Ridha Hassan Salman, Head of the Environment and Safety Protection Section at the municipality, said during spot inspections at these establishments samples were taken to see if they are treated or not.

"We compare the results with the monthly reports sent to us by them. If they are found conforming to the laws, we send the material to the drainage system, otherwise they are warned to treat them.

"It is essential for all the new projects whether industrial or private, to follow the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. We ask factories, carwash stations, laundries and others to submit their reports following the rules. All petrol stations must treat their waste according to the requirements of the law."

He added that these reports give information about any establishment according to the Federal Law No. 24 on the Protection and Development of the Environment. The law was issued in February 2000 by President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

It deals with the general protection of the environment as well as with water, soil, noise and air pollution, handling hazardous substances and hazardous waste, protected 'natural reserves', environmental disasters and the penalties for violating the law.

According to the law, all establishments in the country must submit their reports, before starting any new project, to the authority to get an industrial licence.

Salman said: "We issue any industrial licence on a temporary basis to be sure that the waste they produce is treated. If they prove that they will conform we give them a licence.

"We aim at reducing the amount of waste. We also try to raise the awareness of those establishments on how to reduce the amount of water which reduces the liquid waste and protects the environment."

Dubai is rapidly developing tourism, infrastructure and industry, which could all have an impact on the environment.

"We will need involvement of the private sector and implementation of regulations from the government departments. The government considers environmental protection as one of the cornerstones of its development."