Dubai Municipality has launched the first phase of its 'Agricultural Waste Collection Stations in Residential Areas' initiative in parts of the emirate, providing 6 dedicated stations for collecting agricultural waste in the Khawaneej 1, Khawaneej 2, and Nad Al Sheba areas. Each station is equipped with a 20-cubic-metre container designated for agricultural waste, with daily monitoring of emptying operations.
Engineer Saeed Abdul Rahim Safar, Director of Waste Operations at Dubai Municipality, said the initiative will be expanded in the coming period to cover new areas.
The stations were established to serve residents of residential areas, providing a safe and organised means of disposing of agricultural waste instead of discarding it in public squares or beside rubbish containers, thereby contributing to the improvement of the urban landscape and reducing unregulated practices. Informational awareness boards have also been installed to guide correct use of the containers, as part of Dubai Municipality's efforts to promote environmental sustainability and raise the efficiency of agricultural waste management in residential areas.
He added: "Dubai Municipality attaches great importance to reducing the phenomenon of random dumping of agricultural waste, given the damage it causes to the urban and environmental character of the emirate. In this context, the municipality implements an integrated system of regulatory, field, and awareness measures to ensure the sustained cleanliness of the city."
This is achieved through continuous inspection and field monitoring campaigns in residential, agricultural, and open areas, carried out by a regulatory team deployed across all parts of the emirate, in addition to following up on reports, services, and requests received through the institutional CRM reporting system from customers and the public relating to agricultural waste and taking the necessary action to serve them.
Since the beginning of this year, these have totalled 1,162 requests, reports, and service cases. The municipality's field teams also immediately remove illegally abandoned agricultural waste to prevent its accumulation or impact on the urban landscape, in accordance with daily work programmes.
He explained that as part of this initiative, work is currently under way to complete the documentation of station locations within Google Maps and link them to a unified interactive link for publication and community awareness on the Dubai Municipality website, enhancing operational monitoring efficiency and supporting community awareness efforts.
This data and these links will subsequently be used in various community awareness efforts on the subject. Dubai Municipality is reinforcing its efforts by providing dedicated channels and services for the proper disposal of various types of waste through the Dubai Municipality smart applications, including bulky items and special waste, with the aim of reducing the phenomenon of random waste disposal in public places and open areas, and preserving the aesthetic appearance of the emirate.
The municipality also implements electronic and field awareness programmes targeting farmers, farm owners, and landscaping and agricultural services companies, to raise awareness of the importance of proper agricultural waste management, recycling, and sustainable disposal methods.
He said that the agricultural waste removal service in residential areas can be requested through the Dubai Municipality smart application by selecting the 'Agricultural Waste Removal' service, specifying the location on the map, and attaching any relevant notes or illustrative photographs if needed, then submitting the request, which is transferred directly to the specialist field team to ensure rapid response and improved waste management efficiency.
The service can also be requested through Dubai Municipality's call centre on 800900, where a staff member registers the request, determines the location and an appropriate appointment for inspection or execution, and follows up on the status of the request until the service is completed.
Dubai Municipality processes requests through an organised operational system that ensures rapid response, directing field teams to the specified location to remove waste and transport it to approved sites for safe disposal, thereby contributing to maintaining the cleanliness of residential areas and improving quality of life.
He noted that all behaviours and phenomena related to defacing the urban character of the emirate — pertaining to improper disposal of agricultural waste and general rubbish — are monitored and documented in accordance with the provisions of Executive Council Resolution No. 14 of 2015, amending the schedule of violations and penalties related to public cleanliness, appended to the executive regulations of Local Decree No. 11 of 2003 concerning public health and community safety in the Emirate of Dubai, including the provisions relating to agricultural waste.