Dulsco Waste Management Services, one of the region’s leading waste management specialists, has called on key players in the Gulf region’s construction industry to adopt efficient and sustainable waste management practices in view of the alarming increase in the volume of waste generated by the rapidly growing construction sector.

The move is also in support of the UAE government’s strategy that was recently unveiled by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister and Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai. The UAE government’s strategic plan includes specific provisions regarding environmental protection to achieve sustainable development.
“The construction sector across the region has achieved phenomenal growth, and this has created corresponding challenges regarding waste disposal. This issue needs to be addressed immediately because improper waste management can deliver a devastating negative impact on the environment, health and ultimately the welfare of the region,” said Mark J Siddorn, general manager, Dulsco Waste Management Services.
“We strongly support initiatives such as the UAE government’s move to incorporate in its strategic plan provisions about strengthening the enforcement of environmental policies and providing incentives to encourage the participation of the private sector with regards to environmental compliance programmes,” added Siddorn.
An important aspect in waste management is creating awareness among all construction personnel about the importance of proper waste disposal. Organisations have been urged to educate their staff about proper waste segregation, which will greatly help facilitate waste disposal and recycling. Another critical challenge in waste management is the process of collecting waste from construction sites. There are a number of factors that affect this operation, including traffic during peak hours.
“We have to be constantly on the move to keep pace with the increasing number of areas that need to be cleared of waste. To alleviate this problem, Dulsco’s waste collection team operates 24 hours daily and we have also initiated talks with the governmental authorities to identify other innovative ways to improve efficiency and productivity in the construction sector,” said Siddorn.
The construction sector churns out large volumes of waste everyday, which is compounded when construction sites operate on a 24-hour basis. Up to 70 per cent of construction waste is made up of concrete and tarmac, while the rest is wood and plastics, which can all be recycled.
“Projects such as the waste recycling plants initiated by Al Rostamani and Dubai Municipality will greatly improve waste management performance. There are also plans to create waste-to-energy plants, which will bring even greater benefits to society. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to recycle all construction waste,” said Siddorn.
Dulsco has been widely recognised as a leader in waste management in the region. Recently, the company received a major honour at the inaugural Middle East Facilities Management Excellence Awards where it was cited as the Best Facilities Management Service Provider in the Middle East.
Dulsco is a pioneering UAE-based company with over 70 years of experience in the local business environment. In June 2005 it became a limited liability company (Dulsco LLC) and is now poised to further expand its presence across the GCC region. Initially offering stevedoring services and later providing manpower services such as general workers, semi-skilled and skilled human resources, Dulsco has taken advantage of the region’s economic boom to further increase its business activities across the Gulf and boost its workforce to over 5,000.
As well as providing solid and liquid waste management services, Dulsco HR Solutions has become a human resource solutions provider. This division provides organisations with knowledge resources without having to take on long-term staffing commitments. The ultimate aim of this division is to be a one-stop HR solution provider which offers outsourcing, recruitment, manpower and stevedoring services to companies in the UAE.
Furthermore, Dulsco caters to the maritime industry, specialising in fabrication work, and providing comprehensive oil spill response and force protection booms for key naval assets. The division also provides the industry with tanker services and offshore tank cleaning.
Over the years, Dulsco has seen its involvement grow across the UAE. To keep pace with the industry demands and offer better services, Dulsco has set up branches in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. Currently, the group’s major business divisions are certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.