Recycling plant for electronics to be built in Sharjah, with more to come


  • English
  • Arabic

ABU DHABI // A recycling centre for discarded electronics will be built in Sharjah, and its operator hopes to open more around the country.

The UAE generates one of the region’s biggest amounts of electronics waste, chemicals from which can seep into the soil to aquifers and the food that uses their water to grow.

“Constant technological advancements means that older devices become obsolete at an ever-increasing rate,” said Khaled Al Huraimel, chief executive of Bee’ah, Sharjah’s environmental and waste management company and the plant’s operator.

“The need for computer and electronic recycling is higher than ever before and will only continue to rise.”

Recycling e-waste is lucrative as motherboards and circuitry use precious metals such as gold, which can be extracted and sold.

“More gold can be derived from e-waste than mining ore,” said Nitin Gupta, chief executive of Attero Recycling India, which will set up the plants.

The plan is to have up to eight recycling centres over next two to three years, with an investment of about US$200 million (Dh734.5m).

A UN-sponsored project shows that each year the average UAE resident generates 17.2 kilograms of e-waste, which holds toxins such as arsenic, cadmium and mercury.

Kuwait residents create the same amount, while Bahrain is next on the list with 16.4kg per year.

E-waste generation in the GCC was estimated to be 600,000 tonnes in 2015, which is expected to reach 900,000 tonnes in 2020.

Before, the UAE had companies that would collect e-waste and send it abroad to plants in places such as Singapore.

Mr Gupta said that security concerns were also addressed by recycling e-waste.

“There are also data security concerns, where electronic data lands in the wrong hands and leads to unpredictable, long-term liabilities for corporate entities,” he said.

The project will cover the entire process, from collection to on-site precious metal extraction. A completion date has yet to be announced.

Bee’ah is collaborating with Sharjah Investment and Development Authority and Gulf Islamic Investments to build the project.

nalwasmi@thenational.ae

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km

Price: from Dh285,000

On sale: from January 2022 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final