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Abu Dhabi cuts compost prices

Abu Dhabi Municipality has slashed prices of its environment-friendly compost produced by its plant in Sir Bani Yas by nearly half.

According to municipality sources, the move comes in the wake of complaints that some private companies which import fertiliser manipulate prices and exploit farmers. The price of a bagged tonne of compost has been cut down from Dh430 to Dh260, while a tonne of a bulk tonne has gone down from Dh400 to Dh230.

Before taking the decision, the municipality formed a team of specialists and experts to study the market in order to assist farmers. Following extensive investigation of the local market, the team found out that a number of unscrupulous private companies were exploiting farmers and manipulating prices.

Therefore, the decision has been made to ease the suffering of farmers through delivering compost to their doorstep at low prices so that they will be protected against competitiveness, the source said. He said the move was also aimed at promoting and encouraging the use of the locally-produced environment-friendly compost which does not contain any chemical components. The heat-treated compost increases soil fertility. It is free from plant diseases and provides more crops.

The compost, produced by the municipality's Abu Dhabi Compost Plant which won the Shaikh Khalifa Excellence Award and Environmental Award for the year 1999-2000, is considered by experts as the best solution to plant disease and ecological problems.

Established in 1977, the plant converts the organic component of the municipal solid waste into a rich, dark compost. Much of this compost is used in the development of the parks and gardens of Abu Dhabi city while the surplus is sold to the farmers in the surrounding regions.

On the directives of Shaikh Mohammed bin Butti, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning Department and Chairman of the Plant, plans are under way to build a new waste processing plant.

The plant will replace the present 24-year-old plant with a new plant to produce high quality organic compost using the up-to-date technology in recycling solid waste with closed systems to treat emitted gases during production stages in addition to the production of high quality compost.

In order to make use of the green waste and to turn it into a high quality organic compost by healthy methods, the plant administration is studying a plan to open new branches in Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi, Al Marfa and Al Khatim. The plant at present operates from its facilities in Sir Bani Yas. The municipality is also preparing a comprehensive awareness programme to educate the public on how to deal with household waste.