In association with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sustainability Network, Dulsco, a leading provider of human resource solutions and waste management services in the UAE, recently organized the Open Source Circular Economy (OSCE) Days forum.
Dubai took the opportunity to host the forum, becoming the only city in the Middle East to be part of OSCE Days among 70 other global cities. The forum, conducted at Dubai Chamber, was held under the patronage of Dubai Municipality and was supported by Black Forest Solutions GmbH. At the event, industry experts from the UAE shared best practices with regard to efficient recycling resources, collaborating with peers and creating a new self-sustaining circular economy.
“To be featured in the top 70 major global cities by hosting this event is a major achievement for Dubai,” S. Madhumohan, Dulsco Waste Management Services director, told Gulf News Journal. “Dulsco is pleased to have tied up with Dubai Chamber to organize the OCSE Days and will continue in its efforts to improve sustainability efforts and help Dubai to be on a par with environment efforts by major global cities.”
OSCE Days is an open, distributed and globally connected event in which experts, enthusiasts and innovators from across the globe work together to exchange ideas and solutions, prototyping systems, products and designs for an Open Source Circular Economy. The circular economy is the concept of a truly sustainable economy that works without waste, saves resources and is in synergy with the biosphere. Rather than seeing emissions, byproducts or damaged and unwanted goods as waste, they become raw materials and nutrients for a new production cycle in the circular economy .
“A sustainable, waste-free, circular economy often needs transparency, open access to information and open-source solutions," Madhumohan said. "OSCE Days is organized worldwide to achieve this purpose."
The forum discussed the segregation of waste at the source to help valuable resources like paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, tin, etc. be recycled and contribute to a circular economy. Also, environmentally conscious residents of Dubai living in villas and communities are provided with 63.4-gallon, color-coded trash bins: green for recyclables and black for general waste. It is easier to recycle waste once they are segregated at the source as it prevents recyclable waste from getting mixed with nonrecyclables. Color coding helps save time in the waste collection process.
“We are positive that the key points discussed at the OSCE Days will be emulated by the participating organizations,” Madhumohan said. “The need for additional rules and regulations with regard to e-waste and hazardous materials apart from general waste were echoed by the participants at the forum. The society needs to be encouraged to actively participate and play an important role in waste reduction and proper recycling of unavoidable waste."
Dubai has fast-tracked its approach toward establishing an efficient waste management system, Madhumohan said. The transient population in the UAE is a challenge; therefore, constant awareness campaigns on recycling are necessary to inform the new residents in the city. The event participants believed that if everyone participates in the “Reduce Reuse and Recycle” process, then a zero-waste society is possible by 2021.
“Dulsco is proud to be part of OSCE Days and will continue to contribute toward a better environment for the nation,” Madhumohan said. “In addition to several such initiatives, we are partnering with Dubai Municipality for its ‘My City My Environment’ campaign, to make Dubai an environmentally sustainable city. Throughout the year, we have continuous awareness programs (and) reach out to schools, colleges and communities, and we would like to urge UAE residents to be aware of the importance of recycling and waste management and contribute toward this cause.”
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