Wednesday 17 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman will soon have a national waste management regulation in place to drive a circular economy and fulfil its commitment to the Paris Climate agreement.
Millions of rials worth of waste is generated in Oman every year. However, due to strict regulations on the quality of recycled products and the lack of waste analysis, most of this waste is dumped.
Economic recycling of this waste can create a circular economy, promoting jobs and reducing energy use in the Sultanate, experts believe.
“Previously, we did not have the economic benefit of waste recycling and management, but now, we are moving in to a new era. We are reviewing waste management regulation, so that we can amend it to help create value. We are formulating a framework for technology assessment that can help us achieve this goal,” said Prof. Steve Halls, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.
“Our aim is to get the regulations right, such that they support a circular economy, where we can reuse the resources instead of dumping them,” he added.
Citing advances made in Sweden, where nearly 100 per cent of the household waste is recycled, Halls told Times of Oman that recycling and waste management can be a major job, as well as small and medium enterprises (SME), creator.
“In the amount that we create one new job, we can create four if we use waste management techniques. These are not huge companies, but this will give rise to SMEs, which we know are the backbone for any economy,” noted Halls. Only 2 per cent of the energy potential in solid waste is currently being extracted, presenting a huge opportunity for businesses. Companies such as Enerkum in Canada and Geo Plasma in USA are already using innovative techniques to use waste as biofuels, a potential that remains untapped in Oman.
Utilising waste is also necessary to address Oman’s rising energy demands and honour its commitment to the Paris accord that aims to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius this century.
Halls was speaking during a press conference at the Oman Waste and Environment Services Conference and Exhibition, which focussed on several issues related to waste management and conversion of waste to energy using technology.
“We need to have such conferences to exchange ideas and continue the push towards a sustainable future,” added Halls.
According to Essam Al Sharji, Acting Head of Corporate Affairs at Oman beah, efforts from the government and private entities in this regard can help promote a circular economy.
“There will be increased generation of waste in the future by urban population, and we need to know how to manage it. Both government and private organisations need to be part of this effort. This conference can highlight the business opportunities in waste management.”
Oman’s waste management investment could total around OMR423 million, as suggested by the government officials earlier. Oman has also nearly completed the privatisation of municipal waste management this year.
Projects, relating to environment protection, water conservation, waste management, waste recycling, waste water treatment, green architecture, climate change mitigation, pollution abatement, green entrepreneurship, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, clean manufacturing and environmental education, at the conference, upon selection, will be presented to the policy and decision makers, investors and experts in the waste management field.
This initiative is expected to hone local talent, and, on a larger scale, pave the way towards reinforcing the government’s Omanisation goal, in line with its diversification plan.
