Dubai’s waste management company, Warsan, operates a factory that processes 2 million tons of waste annually. This meets the electricity needs of over 135,000 households in the region. The plant is the world’s largest waste-to-electricity plant and burns discarded trash to generate electricity at an efficiency rate of 34%.
The process involves burning the waste to create heat, which is then used to make steam. Turbines are then run with this steam to produce electricity. The plant also filters out harmful elements such as heavy metals and sulfur compounds from the emissions but releases carbon dioxide into the air. Despite this, the plant believes its electricity production helps reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions.
Warsan takes extra steps to maximize resource extraction by recycling metals and reusing ash mountains in road construction. Only a small amount of residue, about 200 tons out of 5,500 tons received daily, cannot be reused after treatment. While waste-to-electricity plants like Warsan act as a replacement for landfills and help reduce methane emissions, some environmental organizations raise concerns about their impact on waste reduction and recycling efforts.
As the UAE aims to increase recycling rates to 90% by 2050, facilities like Warsan play a crucial role in managing waste and producing electricity while minimizing environmental impact.
