Introduction
Waste management is an important activity in the world. With the growing industrialization, the amount of solid waste has increased by great volumes beyond management in some places. The most challenging has been the disposal of no biodegradable solid waste material like plastic and polyethylene materials. Dubai is one of the growing business and industrial hub in the United Arabs Emirates. This paper will review the earlier study done by Saif Al-Qaydi’s and discuss how McDonough and Braungart would review Saif’s study in light of their “Next industrial revolution” solid management.
Saif Al-Qaydi’s study
The stud examined how the government of Dubai his handling industrial solid wastes that is generation from the growing industrial activities in Dubai. The study surveys the geographical disturbing of the solid waste treatment facilities all over the country. It also looks into different types of waste, the method of collection and transportation and the treatment of the waste. The study posits the role that the government can play in the management of the industrial waste and the provision of treatment facilities which is likely to encourage more international companies to conduct their businesses in Dubai. The study does not recognize the important role of recycling of the solid waste but it only concentration on the collection and disposal of the waste. (Al-Qaydi, 2006)
McDonough and Braungart view of solid management and industrialization
According to the view of the two authors, industrial revolution has helped human development in many ways but we are hitting the limits as the nature starts to respond. They give the example of the Titanic which emitted so much smoke to the sky and poured oil to the water to show how industrial revolution has worked against the natural rules. Therefore in their paper they root for eco-efficiency as the way ahead for industrialization in the world.
They define the term eco-efficiency as doing more with less. In this case they highlight Henry Ford a known industrialist who produced more with less by recycling and reusing the materials which greatly reduced the reliance on the natural resource. This is perhaps the earliest roots for eco-efficiency. In order to promote eco-efficiency the industrial production system has to alter their design to make is more productive. It must also apply the nature’s cycles to minimize waste and utilize the reproduced waste. (McDonough and Braungart, 1998)
In light of the Saif’s paper, McDonough and Braungart would criticize on many fronts. First, Saif’s study highlights the improvement of the environment condition in order to attract many businesses. However the two propose the involvement of the businesses in ensuring safety measures against the environment. This means that they are calling for policies which would make business more responsible in taking care of the environment rather than the government doing it to attract businesses. Second, they would criticize Saif study based on the fact that it has concentrated so much on the collection of the garbage which means cleaning the business area. However it does not mention the concept of alteration of designs to reduce the amount of waste produced from industries nor does it mention the use of nature cycles to recycle the materials that are being used in the industry in order to reduce the reliance on natural materials.
Conclusion
The two studies gives an insight into the efforts that we can make to deal with the problem of industrial waste management. However they differ in their approach in the taking of responsibility in the management of the waste and how this management can be carried out through application of modern means like recycling.
Reference:
Al-Qaydi, S. (2006): industrial solid waste disposal in Dubai, UAE: A study in economic geography. Unit of Government, Policies and Urban Studies, UAE University
McDonough, W. & Braungart, M. (1998): The next Industrial Revolution. The Atlantic, October 1998
