SHARJAH // New solar-powered boats will remove up to 200 kilograms of waste a day from Sharjah’s lagoons, officials say.
The boats are being used along the Corniche at Al Khaled Lagoon, operated by staff from Tandeef, the waste collection and street cleaning division of Bee’ah.
Bee’ah already operates emission-free vehicles such as mobile waste compactors, automated sweepers and street vacuums.
“Tandeef’s fleet of electric-powered vehicles has proven to be highly cost effective and easy to maintain,” said Khaled Al Huraimel, Bee’ah’s group chief executive.
“We strive to significantly reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from our company’s equipment and vehicles.
“These new boats further accelerate our journey towards achieving zero waste to landfill in the emirate by 2015.”
Tandeef began the country’s first residential recycling programme in 2012 with the introduction of 2,000 bins – blue for recyclables and green for general waste.
When collected, their contents are taken to the waste-management centre in Al Sajaa where it is sorted and sent to the different plants according to waste type.
The centre also features a range of departments that focus on landfill re-engineering, education and outreach, and policy development.
ykakande@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.