UAE plans first food-grade plastic recycling plant

UAE plans first food-grade plastic recycling plant

ABU DHABI, 19th January, 2023 (WAM) -- The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) on 17th January 2023 oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which will lay the groundwork for new plastic recycling facility in the UAE.

Under the plans, a 12,000 tonnes per annum polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant has been earmarked for Abu Dhabi. In line with the UAE’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and boost trade through the export of recycled materials, the plant will recycle PET, a plastic material that is used in food packaging, such as plastic water bottles.

The 40,000 square meter facility in Abu Dhabi could create 100 jobs and avoid the emission of 18,000 metric tonnes of CO2 annually at full operating capacity.

The MoU to study the feasibility of the project, which involves Repeet, BEEAH Group, and Agthia, was signed in the presence of Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Director of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment.

Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, said, “Collaboration is