Waste & Recycling Middle East and Africa magazine organised the fourth edition of the Middle East Waste & Recycling Awards on November 24 in Dubai.

The awards honoured individuals and organisations in 17 different categories related to the environmental sector. 

Launched in 2018, MEWAR Awards has been celebrating success in adopting best practices in the environmental management business. The fourth edition too recognised outstanding individuals and organisations in the Middle East that have demonstrated leadership and innovation in their respective fields and have significantly contributed to environmental sustainability along with economic viability, ultimately contributing to a greener future. 

The awards saw tremendous enthusiasm in participation from the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt among others. The awards were judged by a panel of prominent and respected experts, advocates and spokespeople in the focus area of environmental sustainability. 

Our jury included Brian Taylor, Senior Editor for Recycling Today Media Group, USA; Angus Macpherson, Founder and Managing Director of The Environment Exchange, UK; Dr. Steve Wong, Founder & CEO of Fukutomi, Susie Burrage, Managing Director of Recycled Products Ltd, UK; Dr. Udayan Banerjee is the Technical Advisor to the Director General at Tadweer – Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre; Eng. Mohammad Ibrahim Mahmoud Mosa, Senior Specialist, Hazardous Materials and Waste Policy & Regulations at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; Sonia Nasser, Principal Solid Waste Engineer with Tetra Tech Solid Waste West, California;  Christian Millar, Managing Director, Sustainability and Environmental Services, KEO International Consultants, also the Consulting Partner for MEWAR Awards; Dr. Rashed Karkain, an Emirati Innovator and Researcher, Founder and Managing Director of Sustainable Development Research and Training Institute; and Ahmad Al Zubair, Research and Development team at the Centre for Sustainability and Circular Economy, Be’ah Oman. 

We are also pleased that the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has recognised this award. The awards ceremony was attended by dignitaries including HE Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary, Support Services Sector, MOCCAE;Senior officials from Dubai Municipality, RAKEZ, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones, Ajman Municipality, among others.

Apart from the 17 categories, this year the magazine also recognised various entities and individuals for their contribution to environmental protection including the Kinana Bhai Saheb Jamaluddin, President of the Dawoodi Bohra Community in the Middle East and representative of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin 53rd Al Dai Mutlaq and leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, and Sanjay Mehta, Director, MTC Group, and President of Materials Recycling Association of India.

Here is the list of winners and runners up 

Technology Innovation of the Year Award

Winner - re.life

Runner up - Eco Technologies 

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Al Wakeel Recycling FZ LLC
• Epson ME
• Green Eco Technologies
• re.life
• Tomra Sorting Solutions GmbH
• Veolia Middle East Recycling LLC

Best Municipal Waste Diversion Programme

Winner - Ajman Municipality

Runner up - AIMS Group

Food Waste Initiative of the Year

Winner - Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas Abu Dhabi

First Runner up - Lootah Bio Fuel

Second Runner up - The Waste Lab

Shortlisted Nominees

• IKEA Dubai Festival City
• Lootah Biofuel LLC
• Mercure Hotel Barsha Heights
• Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas Abu Dhabi
• The Waste Lab

Best Waste Diversion Initiative (Private sector)

Winner - RECAPP

First Runner Up - Dulsco

Second Runner up - GMA Garnet Middle East

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Al Dhafra Recycling Industries
• DGrade FZ LLC
• Dulsco
• GMA Garnet Middle East Fze
• RECAPP
• Six Senses Zighy Bay

Personality of the Year - Waste Management

Eng. Humaid Abdullah Al Mualla, Ajman Municipality 

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Eng. Humaid Abdullah Al Mualla, Ajman Municipality and Planning Department
• Khaled Al Rashed, Global Environmental Management Services
• Sherief Amozies Younan Ayad, Ecogreen
• Wajahat Ali, AIMS Group

Medical Waste Management Best Practice Award

Winner - Cleanco Waste Treatment

Runner up - International Modern Hospital

Best Waste Reduction Initiative (Government sector)

Winner - Dubai Integrated Economic Zones

Runner up - Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Authority

Environmental/ CSR Initiative of the Year Award

Winner - DGrade

First Runner up - Food ATM

Second Runner up- Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas Abu Dhabi

Waste Management Company of the Year Award

Winner - Beeah

Runners up - Dulsco & Imdaad 

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Bee'ah
• Dulsco
• Global Environmental Management Services
• Green Arabia
• Imdaad

Paper Recycling Company of the Year

Winner - Middle East Paper Company

Runner up - Keryas Paper Industry LLC

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Advance plastic chips manufacturing llc
• Bariq for Techno and Advanced Industries
• CONSENT FZCO
• FAM Recycling FZCO

Rising Star Award

Mahmoud Al Sharif, Sharif Metals group 

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Rebecca, DGrade
• Eric Schaffner, Zeeloop
• Ahmed Taher, Al Dhafra
• Mahmoud Al Sharif, Sharif Metals
• Yousef Bin Saeed Al Lootah, Lootah Biofuels
• Manal Yamini, Global Environmental Management Services

Electrical & Electronic Equipment Recycling Company of the Year (OEM) Award

Winner - HP Computing and Printing Middle East

Metals Recycling Company of the Year (Manufacturer/Processor)

Winner - Al Qaryan Group

First Runner up -  Pan Gulf International Metals Industry

Second Runner up - RKG International FZC

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Al Qaryan Group
• PGI Group
• RKG International
• Sharif Metals Group
• Sun Metal Group

Plastics Recycling Company of the Year

Winner - Bariq for Techno and Advanced Industries

Runner up - CONSENT FZCO

Electrical & Electronic Equipment Recycling Company of the Year (WEEE Processor)

Winner - YES Full Circle

Runner up - Madenat Al Nokhba Recycling Services

Metals Recycling Company of the Year (Trader)

Winner - Pan Gulf International Metals Industry

Runner up - Ala International FZE

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Ala International  FZE
• Nicro Metals Waste Trading
• PGI Group
• Sharif Metals Group 

Personality of the Year - Recycling

Salam Sharif, Sharif Metals Group 

Shortlisted Nominees 

• Anshul Gupta, CEO, PGI Group
• Habiba Al Marashi, Emirates Environmental Group
• Maheshwar Akkala, Consent FZCO
• Rajesh Agarwal, RKG international
• Salam Al Sharif, Sharif Metals Group
• Yousef Bin Saeed Al Lootah, Lootah Biofuels
• V. Rajasekar, Keryas Paper Industry LLC

And here are the pictures