Shoppers in Dubai malls produce over a half a kilogram of waste per person per visit, a survey has found.
According to information gathered from seven malls by UAE-based, sustainability-led facilities management company Farnek, each visitor used an average of 511 kWh per square metre of energy, used 10.86 litres of water and produced 520 grams of waste.
“511 kWh is enough energy to run a fridge-freezer continuously for 365 days,” added Markus Oberlin, CEO of Farnek.
500g is roughly equivalent to three apples or a loaf of bread.
The malls submitted data about their consumption figures and the general characteristics of their buildings, and the figures were calculated after taking in to consideration other variables, such as the amount of outdoor space and air conditioning by type and distribution.
“A low performing mall uses almost twice as much energy as a better performing mall, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive energy management plan and the savings it can make,” added Oberlin.
The waste generation ratio per visitor varied between 250g and 1.08kg, with malls on average diverting just 23 per cent of their waste from landfill and into recycling.
“A poor waste performing shopping centre generates over four times as much waste as the best performing mall and given the increased Dubai landfill rates that will come into force on 18th May, savings here could be considerable," said Mr Oberlin.
Under recycling guidelines for malls that were first announced in 2012, shopping centres are required to segregate recycleable plastic, paper, metals and glass, from non-recycleable items. Malls were expected to comply by the end of 2013 as part of a plans to ensure as much as 75 per cent of Dubai's waste was recycled by this year.
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Later this year, Dubai Municipality is to raise its fee of Dh10 per trip for trucks to dump waste in landfill sites to Dh80 per tonne of waste, and Dh100 by 2020.
The Municipality offers discounts for those who segregate rubbish into recyclables and non-recyclables.
The UAE has one of the highest waste generation rates, with each person in the country estimated to produce on average up to 2.3kg of waste every day and Dubai generates 8,200 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day, according to figures released in 2016 - that is 15 per cent above the global average.
The emirate has set a target of zero landfill waste by 2030.
Farnek's key findings of are to be showcased at the RetrofitTech Dubai Summit which starts on 10th April.
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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