EAD’s push for improved industrial compliance reaches the USA

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently shared some of the Emirate’s best practices in the field of air quality monitoring and waste management at a major international air and waste management conference in the USA. EAD’s Eltezam campaign and Inspections and Compliance Tool – both aimed at monitoring and regulating industry – featured at the Air and Waste Management Association Conference, which took place in Long Beach, California last month. Eng. Khalid Al Hajeri, Manager of Compliance and Enforcement, and Ahmad Al Waheebi, Head of Compliance and Audit, from EAD presented Abu Dhabi’s efforts in air monitoring and waste management to more than 100 of the world’s leading environmental experts at the event. Through the Eltezam campaign, which means ‘compliance’ in Arabic, EAD worked with 160 facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to raise their awareness about the importance of complying with their environmental permit conditions, specifically around the release of Particulate Matter (PM) – a primary by-product from cement-mixing. The campaign entailed capacity building, rigorous inspections and enforcement of regulations. Ahmad Al Waheebi, Head of Compliance and Audit, EAD said: "Following Eltezam’s previous success in engaging the Ready Mix sector to raise awareness of the importance of limiting the amount of Particulate Matter (PM), our campaign provided the industry with guidance on best practice and compliance. We recorded a 46 percent improvement in compliance within the sector in one year." The second case study presented in the USA was the Inspections and Compliance Tool (ICT). This tool is used by EAD to monitor compliance of facilities and projects. Eng. Al Hajeri said: "Since we introduced this state-of-the-art technology, the our information collation process has become more efficient and has helped us better focus on minimising environmental impact across the Emirate. With tools like this, we can contribute to achieving sustainable development and continue working toward a cleaner future." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395268388814.html