There has been an increasing emphasis on proper waste management and environmental conservation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With multiple benefits of saving landfill space, reducing carbon emissions and so on, recycling is also becoming a key area of focus in the country. The UAE was the first country in the region to start glass recycling; and though glass recycling is considered to be in a nascent stage in this part of the world, one company has been working hard over the past few years to effectively operate the first and only fully automated glass recycling plant in the region, located in the emirate of Dubai, UAE. “Our passion for recycling and the lack of a glass recycling facility in the UAE conforming to international standards were the reasons for starting this venture,” says Ahmed Inshaz, Director at Random Global FZCO.

It was considered as a project that was not commercially feasible with high investment costs and lower volumes available to sustain such a venture. “Though organisations looked at it as a business opportunity, it did not proceed further than the drawing board.” Such was the challenge, but with many years of glass manufacturing experience in the UAE and knowing the requirements of the industry he went on to establish Random Global FZCO a few years back, he states. The glass waste once processed is technically known as glass cullet, which is basically crushed recycled glass, free of all impurities, separated by colour and ready to be remelted by the glass manufacturers in making new glass containers (bottles and jars), minimising the use of virgin raw materials thereby helping conserve natural resources. Glass manufacturers using recycled glass save on energy as it requires 40% less energy to melt than using virgin materials.

With the support extended by UAE glass manufacturers in using recycled glass, and redefining the glass waste collection process from different sources, Random Global has been able to sustain the glass recycling operation in recent years and is confident of making a substantial impact for the benefit of the country, says Inshaz. The company receives substantial support and assistance from Dubai Municipality, Public Services Department, Government of Ras Al Khaimah, waste management companies, hotels and other corporate entities for the collection of recyclable glass waste. 

Glass recycling facility and operations

The director gives us a tour of the facility. The glass recycling factory is designed to sort different types of waste glass and produce high quality secondary raw material. The equipment is custom-made and the machines with “cutting-edge German technology” have generated significant progress in the glass recycling process, he says. Waste glass that is received at the facility is processed through an automated optic sorting machinery system where all impurities are removed including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, paper, organic waste, ceramics, stones and porcelain, and segregated by colour. “Even if there are a few small pieces of aluminium in a ton of processed glass, the material will be rejected,” says Inshaz. The sorting and recycling systems yield end products of different qualities including green, colourless and amber glass cullet. He says the mixing is done as per the composition required by the client, and it is important to provide high quality glass cullet to glass makers as it would otherwise affect the quality of the end-product. “Getting the composition to the customer’s specifications is important for success,” he comments. Having worked in the glass industry for many years and knowing the customers well has helped in growing the business to a certain extent, he notes. “I have a good understanding with all of them. Today, all my clients are happy and have faith in me because I give them what they want.”

Key issues

Contamination is one of the major challenges as some of the material that reaches their facility is polluted and poses difficulties, says the director. For instance, aluminium components are at times comingled with glass, which makes it difficult to recycle the material. But when the glass is collected directly by Random Global in its purpose designed vehicle, this problem does not exist, Inshaz notes, adding that the bottles that come with the cap can be treated easily with their machines. There were regulations established in 2015 as per which waste glass, especially from commercial/industrial establishments have to be disposed of in a proper manner. The authorities were lenient and had given sufficient time for people to comply with the regulations. As per recent figures, the UAE generates approximately 100 million empty bottles per year, of which the director says “about 10 percent is recycled in the manufacture of new glass, and with this trend more than 75 percent will be recoverable within a reasonable period of time. Changing mindsets is important for recycling efforts to succeed.”

Opportunities in glass recycling

With regard to the opportunities in glass recycling he says, “The UAE has a small population as compared to most other countries in the world and a much lower volume of glass waste is generated due to this fact. So, there are limited opportunities for a glass recycling facility as it not commercially feasible.” But since they started this venture, they have been continuing the progress “purely from an environmental perspective” he says, and they have been getting sufficient support from various governmental authorities to continue their work. Things will change with time, particularly in the light of the vision of the government to divert 75 percent waste away from landfill by 2021. “I’ve been in the UAE for over two decades and knowing the way the leadership thinks and acts here, I am sure that things will fall in place,” the director remarks.

They have also been experimenting with different glass types and based on the results the company will be developing suitable machines for recycling. While glass bottles are easier to recycle, the challenge is particularly with sheet glass which has components that are a bit complicated. “We are currently able to process all types of glass excluding mirror glass and double layered glass with a plastic interlayer in the middle. These are the only types of glass waste that go to the landfill,” says Inshaz, adding that they could possibly be recycled in the near future.