Veolia to set up first food-grade plastic recycling plant in UAE

Veolia to set up first food-grade plastic recycling plant in UAE

UAE - French water management specialist Veolia said its regional subsidiary Repeet has signed an agreement with UAE-based sustainability pioneer Beeah and F&B conglomerate Agthia to set up a food-grade plastic recycling plant in Abu Dhabi with a total capacity of 12,000 tonnes per annum.

The MoU was signed in co-operation with the UAE's Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which lays the groundwork for the new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) facility.

Spread over a 40,000-sq-m area in Abu Dhabi, the new plant, at full operating capacity, is likely to generate 100 odd jobs in addition to helping cut 18,000 MT of CO2 emission annually.

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.

"MoIAT has played an essential role to create a favorable environment for the development of circular economy projects in the UAE," remarked Pascal Grante, the CEO of Veolia Near & Middle East, after signing the MoU for the project's feasibility study with Beeah Group CEO Khaled Al Huraimel and Agthia Group CEO Alan Smith.

The signing