About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of EcoMENA. He is a consultant, ecopreneur and journalist with expertise across in waste management, renewable energy, environment protection and sustainable development. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biomass energy, biogas, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. He has participated in numerous conferences and workshops as chairman, session chair, keynote speaker and panelist. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability across the globe Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org

How To Wrap Your Home In Soothing Pastels

After a difficult day, returning home to the serene embrace of soft pastel hues is comforting. The soft hues that adorn the walls of your living space instantly melt away any tension, replacing it with a sense of calm and tranquility. With a few simple steps, you can wrap your home in these gentle shades, creating an oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation.  Let’s explore how to transform your living space into a haven of soothing pastels. Pastel Home Decor Ideas Given below are some of the most delicate ideas that you can incorporate in your home decor to give it … Continue reading

Green Building Rating Systems in the MENA Countries

Green buildings not only contribute towards a sustainable construction and environment but also bring lots of benefits and advantages to building owners and users. Lower development costs, lower operating costs, increased comforts, healthier indoor environment quality, and enhanced durability and less maintenance costs are hallmarks of a typical green building. A wide range of green building rating and assessment systems are used around the world, including LEED and BREEAM. Sustainability is now a top priority in MENA region and countries like Qatar and UAE have come up with their own green building rating system to incorporate socio-economic, environmental and cultural … Continue reading

How to Read a Pet Food Label – What to Look For, Ingredients to Avoid

As a pet owner, you want the best for your furry friends. That includes ensuring they get nutritious and safe meals. Reading pet food labels is crucial in making this happen. While it may seem daunting at first, understanding these labels will help you make informed decisions about what goes into your pet’s diet. Here’s an overview of what you need to know about extracting info from often confusing labeling. Key Elements You Should Look For on a Pet Food Label When you’re scanning pet food labels, there are certain elements that need your attention. Here’s a quick rundown of … Continue reading

7 Insights into Diamond Mining and its Environmental Impact

To make diamond jewelry, the gems we covet need to be mined. This practice is not without its problems, especially from an environmental perspective. So with that in mind, let’s look at what consumers need to know about the mark that mining leaves on our planet, and the alternatives that are out there for anyone who wants to minimize their own carbon footprint. Unveiling the Glitter: The Diamond Mining Process Diamond mining is a process shrouded in mystery for many. It starts with prospecting, where geologists search for kimberlite pipes, which are ancient pathways of volcanic activity that have carried … Continue reading

Advancements in Tire Shredding: Enhancing Tire Disposal Efficiency

Disposing of old tires is a real challenge, especially considering its link to broader issues such as waste management and environmental care. With growing global concern, finding efficient ways to handle used tires is more crucial than ever. One approach gaining popularity is tire-shredding, a practical method to deal with tire waste that also minimizes environmental impact. Fortunately, the tire-shredding techniques of today have undergone numerous transformations, mainly owing to technological advancements. These improvements aim to make the tire shredding process more efficient, sustainable, and less damaging to the environment. This article explores these technological advancements in-depth, highlighting how they … Continue reading

Solid Waste Management in Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of around 33 islands, the largest being the Bahrain Island. The population of Bahrain is around 1.2 million marked by population density of 900 persons per km2, which is the highest in the entire GCC region. The country has the distinction of being one of the highest per capita waste generators worldwide which is estimated at 1.67 – 1.80 kg per person per day. Infact, Bahrain produces largest amount of waste per person among GCC countries despite being the smallest nation in the region. Rising population, high waste generation growth rate, limited land … Continue reading

وقود الديزل الحيوي

هي الوقت البديلة النظيفة المنجة محليا والتى تعد من الموارد المتجددة  وهذه الوقود عبارة عن خليط من  استرات ألكيل الدهنية حمض مصنوعة من الزيوت النباتية،و  الدهون الحيوانية أو الشحوم المعاد تدويرهاحيثما كان ذلك متاحا، وقود الديزل الحيوي يمكن استخدامها في ضغط الاشتعال (الديزل) محركات في شكله النقي مع تعديلات ضئيلة أو معدومة. وقود الديزل الحيوي هو سهلة الاستخدام، والقابلة للتحلل غير سام، وخالية أساسا من الكبريت والعطريات. عادة ما يتم استخدامه كمادة مضافة الديزل النفطية للحد من مستويات الجسيمات وأول أكسيد الكربون والهيدروكربونات والمواد السامة من السيارات العاملة على المازوت. عندما تستخدم كمادة مضافة، وقود الديزل الناتجة يمكن أن يسمى ب5، ب10 … Continue reading

Analysis of a Composting Facility

The composting process is a complex interaction between the waste and the microorganisms within the waste. The microorganisms that carry out this process fall into three groups: bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. Actinomycetes are a form of fungi-like bacteria that break down organic matter. The first stage of the biological activity is the consumption of easily available sugars by bacteria, which causes a fast rise in temperature. The second stage involves bacteria and actinomycetes that cause cellulose breakdown. The last stage is concerned with the breakdown of the tougher lignins by fungi. The composting process occurs when biodegradable waste is piled together … Continue reading

CDM Projects in MENA Region

The MENA region is an attractive CDM destination as it is rich in renewable energy resources and has a robust oil and gas industry. Surprisingly, countries in MENA host very few and declining number of CDM projects with only 23 CDM projects registered till date. The region accounts for only 1.5 percent of global CDM projects and only two percent of emission reduction credits. The two main challenges facing many of these projects are: weak capacity in most MENA countries for identifying, developing and implementing carbon finance projects and securing underlying finance. The registered CDM projects in MENA countries are … Continue reading

الطاقه المتجددة بالمغرب العربي

المغرب، كونها أكبر مستورد للطاقة في شمال أفريقيا، تبذل جهودا مركزة للحد من اعتمادها على الوقود الأحفوري المستورد. وتعتبر الطاقة المتجددة  مصدر موثوق في بلد مثل المغرب العربي التي لديها الاعتماد الكامل تقريبا على شركات الطاقة المستوردة.والمغرب تنفق سنويا  أكثر من 3 مليارات دولار على واردات الوقود والكهرباء في حين انها تشهد نمو الطلب على الطاقة بمعدل 6.5 في المئة سنويا. وفقا لتقرير الوزارة المغربية للطاقة والتعدين، الطاقة الإجمالية المركبة للطاقة المتجددة (باستثناء الطاقة المائية) ما يقرب من 300ميجا وات في عام 2011. وقد حققت الحكومة المغربية بالفعل هدفها المتمثل في توفير حوالي 8٪ من إجمالي الطاقة الأولية من مصادر … Continue reading

District Cooling in the Middle East: Potential and Challenges

District cooling produces chilled water in a centralized location for distribution to buildings like offices and factories through a network of insulated underground pipes. The chilled water travels to different buildings, where the water circulates through refrigeration coils or uses absorption technology to enter the air-conditioning system. During winter, the source for the cooling can often be seawater, so it is a cheaper resource than using electricity to run compressors for cooling. What is District Cooling District cooling provides effective control over internal temperature of a building, requires less maintenance than a standalone air-conditioning system, consumes lesser space and reduces … Continue reading

The International Road Safety Report: Road Tolls by Country

We compare the number of road fatalities per 100,000 population between the USA and other English Speaking Countries – the UK, NZ, Canada, Australia and Ireland USA road fatalities are 11.78 people per 100,000 population – highest of English-speaking countries New Zealand is second highest, with a rate of 6.01 deaths per 100,000 people Canada is third behind the USA and NZ with 4.59 road fatalities per 100,000 population Australia is fourth highest in terms of road fatalities with a rate of 4.26 Ireland’s road fatality rate per 100,000 is 2.96 UK has lowest fatalities per 100,000 population, of 2.26 … Continue reading