Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Green Business Certification Inc to collaborate in the field of zero waste management.

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Dr Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, General Manager of Tadweer and Mahesh Ramanujam, President & CEO of Green Business Certification Inc.

Aligned with Tadweer’s objective of implementing integrated waste management through optimal investment of assets, specialized human resources and world class technological solutions, the MoU will support Tadweer’s efforts to minimize the waste production by pursuing zero waste goals as a strategy for full diversion of waste from non-recovery solutions, while creating a responsible and sustainable society that adopts zero waste lifestyle choices.

The MoU also includes training and capacity building for Tadweer employees and stakeholders to participate and implement Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) zero waste program in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The MoU will allow Tadweer to create a competent, trained and certified team comprising representatives from selected Tadweer departments. As part of the drive, Tadweer will implement TRUE Zero Waste Certification and TRUE Zero Waste Rating System to help businesses and facilities define, pursue and achieve their zero waste goals through project certification and professional credentialing.

His excellency Dr Salim Al Kaabi, Director General of Tadweer, said: “This MoU is aligned with Tadweer’s efforts to reduce waste and promote responsible consumption of natural resources in line with the highest international standards in integrated waste management. To achieve this goal, Tadweer takes a keen interest in collaborating and exchanging knowledge with like-minded organizations from both public and private sectors and become a benchmark for other entities worldwide through incorporating the Zero Waste approach into its internal strategy.”

Al Kaabi added: “At Tadweer, we seek to achieve Zero Waste through recycling, waste segregation at source and increased community awareness. The MoU will pave way for wider collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders involved in waste management and production to develop and implement sustainable and integrated programs and systems to reduce Abu Dhabi Emirate’s overall waste generation in line with Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030.”

GBCI is a certification and credentialing body within the green business and sustainability industry, administering project certifications and professional credentials of rating systems such as LEED, TRUE, etc. GBCI’s TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) is the new brand identity for a zero-waste rating system.

Zero Waste aims to design and manage products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, while conserving and recovering all resources instead of burning or sending waste to landfills. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that pose a serious threat to planet and human, animal and plant health.