Evolution of Environmental Management in Dubai William B. Jones Project Manager Zephyr Environmental Corporation Redha H. Salman Head, Environment Protection.

Evolution of Environmental Management

in Dubai

William B. Jones

Project ManagerZephyr Environmental Corporation

Redha H. Salman

Head, Environment Protection and Safety SectionDubai Municipality

Presented at 100th Annual AWMA Conference and Exhibition

Pittsburgh, PA

June 26, 2007

Outline of PresentationOutline of PresentationOutline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

• History of Dubai• Development of Environmental

awareness in Dubai• Present-day Environment Department

– Waste Services Section– Environment Protection & Safety Section– Waste Treatment Section

• Future Environmental Challenges for Dubai

Where is Dubai?Where is Dubai?Where is Dubai?Where is Dubai?

History of DubaiHistory of DubaiHistory of DubaiHistory of Dubai

• Tribal sheikhdoms for thousands of years• Treaty between Great Britain and main

sheikhs of coastal regions in 1892• Great Britain pulled out in 1971• Nine sheikhdoms split into three

countries:– Qatar– Bahrain– United Arab Emirates (seven sheikhdoms

became seven Emirates)

Dubai is one of seven Emirates in Dubai is one of seven Emirates in U.A.EU.A.E

Dubai is one of seven Emirates in Dubai is one of seven Emirates in U.A.EU.A.E

Ruling family of DubaiRuling family of DubaiRuling family of DubaiRuling family of Dubai• Sheikh Rashid often

credited as initiating Dubai’s push toward a world-class city

• Sheikh Rashid died in 1990, succeeded by his son Sheikh Maktoum

• Sheikh Maktoum died in 2006, succeeded by his brother Sheikh Mohammed

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai CreekDubai Creek

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai CreekDubai Creek

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sLooking toward Persian GulfLooking toward Persian Gulf

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sLooking toward Persian GulfLooking toward Persian Gulf

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai AirportDubai Airport

Dubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai in the 1950’s and 1960’sDubai AirportDubai Airport

Dubai todayDubai todayDubai CreekDubai CreekDubai todayDubai todayDubai CreekDubai Creek

Dubai todayDubai todayDubai WaterfrontDubai Waterfront

Dubai todayDubai todayDubai WaterfrontDubai Waterfront

Dubai todayDubai todayBurj DubaiBurj Dubai

Dubai todayDubai todayBurj DubaiBurj Dubai

Dubai todayDubai todayBurj Al Arab and Medina JumeirahBurj Al Arab and Medina Jumeirah

Dubai todayDubai todayBurj Al Arab and Medina JumeirahBurj Al Arab and Medina Jumeirah

Dubai todayDubai todayDubai International AirportDubai International Airport

Dubai todayDubai todayDubai International AirportDubai International Airport

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryOriginsOrigins

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryOriginsOrigins

• April 26, 1986: explosion at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station

• 1988: Leaders of Dubai formed environmental section in Health Department

• 1991: Dubai Municipality (DM) worked with United Nations Environment Programme to form Environment Protection & Safety Section (EPSS)

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryEnvironmental RegulationsEnvironmental Regulations

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryEnvironmental RegulationsEnvironmental Regulations

• July 15, 1991: Local Order No. 61 had eight chapters governing environmental and safety issues, including– Reuse and disposal of wastewater/sewage sludge– Disposal of wasterwater in marine waters– Air pollution control– Noise– Protected areas (Wildlife Sanctuaries)

• Since that time a multitude of Technical Guidelines have been issued to provide guidance on regulations

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryEstablishment of Air Monitoring NetworkEstablishment of Air Monitoring NetworkDubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental History

Establishment of Air Monitoring NetworkEstablishment of Air Monitoring Network

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryEstablishment of Environmental Department (1999)Establishment of Environmental Department (1999)

Dubai’s Environmental HistoryDubai’s Environmental HistoryEstablishment of Environmental Department (1999)Establishment of Environmental Department (1999)

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentWaste Services SectionWaste Services Section

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentWaste Services SectionWaste Services Section

• Cleaning public areas (streets, souqs, beaches)

• Waste is delivered to designated landfill or treatment sites

• Regularly inspects residential, public, and commercial premises to ensure compliance with public health and cleanliness regulations

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentEnvironment Protection & Safety SectionEnvironment Protection & Safety Section

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentEnvironment Protection & Safety SectionEnvironment Protection & Safety Section

• Air quality monitoring• Marine water quality

monitoring and cleaning (Dubai Creek)

• Inspection of industrial facilities• Licensing system (EIA’s)• Management of Dangerous Goods and

Hazardous Wastes

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentWaste Treatment SectionWaste Treatment Section

DM Environment DepartmentDM Environment DepartmentWaste Treatment SectionWaste Treatment Section

• Responsible for disposal of waste throughout Emirate (general and hazardous/medical)

• Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal facility near Jebel Ali– Began operation in 2001– Consists of

• Chemical treatment plant, • Waste stablization plant, • Evaporation ponds, and • Single/double-lined landfills

Future Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental Challenges

• Population of Dubai is exploding (approximately 1.2 million in 2006, expected to reach 2 million by 2010)

• Increase in people puts stresses on aspects of the environment

Future Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesHigh Particulate LevelsHigh Particulate Levels

Future Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesHigh Particulate LevelsHigh Particulate Levels

• Issue– Desert nearby– Exacerbated by extensive construction

activities

• Planned solutions– Expand the irrigation network & full utilization

of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE)– Increase green cover and public & community

parks

Future Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesTrafficTraffic

Future Environmental ChallengesFuture Environmental ChallengesTrafficTraffic

• Issue– Traffic congestion getting very bad

• Planned solutions– Dubai Metro (Dh15 billion, or $4 billion)– Purchase of 620 buses at a cost of more than

Dh1 billion ($365 million), to be delivered in 2007 and 2008, thereby increasing the number of buses to 1200 buses by 2008.

• Goal– “People will detect a visible difference in

Dubai's roads and transport within two years"

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges OzoneOzone

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges OzoneOzone

• Issue– High ozone levels– Ample emissions (industries and mobile

sources)– Favorable weather (sunlight, recirculation of

land/sea breze)

• Planned solutions– Utilize LNG/LPG in Power Plants and large

transport fleets (taxis, busses)

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

• Issue– Rapidly running out of landfill space

• Planned Solutions– Exploring successful practices and

technologies from around the world such as WTE (waste to energy systems)

– Establish centralized facilities for general waste sorting, construction and demolition debris waste recycling, and tires utilization

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges Lack of ConservationLack of Conservation

Future Environmental Challenges Future Environmental Challenges Lack of ConservationLack of Conservation

• Issue– U.A.E. found to have largest ecological

footprint by World Wildlife Fund– Recycling and general conservation frame of

mind need to be instilled in local population

• Planned solutions– Increase the number of conservation site and

protected areas.– Children identified as the primary target for

environmental awareness programs– Diversifying awareness tools to suit the mix of

cultures and background

Contact InformationContact Information Contact InformationContact Information

Zephyr Environmental Corporation

10420 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 320

Columbia, Maryland 21044

Bill Jones

410-312-7910; [email protected]

visit us at www.ZephyrEnv.com

and www.HazMatAcademy.com