Author Archives: Salman Zafar

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

الأثر البيئي للتحول من استخدام الأكياس البلاستيكية إلى الأكياس القابلة لإعادة الاستخدام

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تُعتبر الأكياس البلاستيكية من أشدّ أنواع النفايات الصلبة ضرراً. حيث إنها السبب الرئيسي لانسداد المسطحات المائية، ومسبباً للإخلال بالنظم البيئية الطبيعية، وتلوث التربة، ونفوق الحيوانات والطيور. تتحلل الأكياس البلاستيكية إلى جزيئات بلاستيكية دقيقة، وتلوّث مصادر المياه وتدخل للسلسلة الغذائية عبر الحيوانات البحرية للإنسان. يتم استهلاك أكثر من 5 تريليون كيس بلاستيكي حول العالم سنوياً وهذا يعطي فكرة واضحة عن حجم الخطر المحدق بالبيئة والصحة العامة. ولكن ماهي البدائل المتوفرة للأكياس البلاستيكية؟ يُعدّ استخدام الأكياس البلاستيكية القابلة للتحلل، والقطنية والقنبيّة والورقية من الحلول الممكنة للحدّ من التلوث البلاستيكي، وتقدم الأكياس القطنية – القابلة لإعادة الاستخدام والتحلل الحيوي – حلاً دائماً ومستداماً … Continue reading →

الاستخدام المسؤول للموارد الطبيعية لترتيب منزلك

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تنظيف المنزل هو روتين يجب القيام به بانتظام بحيث يؤهل إمكانية العيش في بيئة مريحة.  يمكن لبعض الطرق المستخدمة لتنظيف المنازل أن تؤثر سلبًيا على البيئة بطرق مختلفة. لمنع ذلك  يمكنك اتباع طرق صديقة للبيئة. يمكنك التعرف علي من ٦ طرق المسماة بالطرق الخضراء لترتيب منزلك: منتجات التنظيف المحضرة في المنزل منتجات التنظيف منزلية الصنع بمكونات طبيعية مثل عصير الليمون والخل الأبيض وصودا الخبز وزيت الزيتون مثالية لتنظيف منزلك لأنها لا تؤثر سلبًا على البيئة. هذه منتجات آمنة وصديقة للبيئة  ويمكن استخدامها لأغراض مختلفة مثل تنظيف المطبخ والنوافذ والحمام. إذا كنت تريد التخلص من الحشرات والمخلوقات البكتيرية التي تظهر على … Continue reading →

5 Eco-Friendly Habits That Reduce Fly Problems in Stables and Small Farms

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There are over 100,000 stable flies produced in a single pound of wet manure if the conditions are right. This staggering number illustrates why a proactive approach is the only way to keep your animals comfortable. When you focus on these five sustainable habits, you reduce the need for harsh chemicals while achieving better long-term results for your herd. Daily Manure Management Routines The most impactful habit any stable owner can adopt is a rigorous manure removal schedule. Flies require moist organic matter to lay their eggs, and a fresh pile of manure is the perfect nursery. By cleaning stalls … Continue reading →

How to Prepare Your Home for Loved Ones with Disability

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Preparing a home for living with a disability is not as easy as you think. It requires various considerations to ensure mobility and safety. It is always important to consider the condition of your loved one before setting up your home. Experts recommend different tips for preparing your home for living with a disability. It is also worth investing a little bit on some features of your home such as lighting, doors, acoustic, floor and aesthetics. These features need specific refinement to make your home more accessible and friendly for people with disabilities. Below are a few ways to prepare … Continue reading →

Why a Solar Pond Heater is Essential for Cold-Weather Pond Care

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Winter has a habit of turning a calm, attractive pond into a far more demanding system. A pond that seemed balanced in autumn can become vulnerable once temperatures fall, ice begins to form, and snow reduces light at the surface. For homeowners with ornamental ponds, koi keepers, estate managers, and landowners responsible for fish health, cold-weather pond care is not just about keeping the water looking neat. It’s about protecting water quality and giving the pond a safer chance of making it through the season intact. That’s where a solar pond heater plays an important role in winter pond management. … Continue reading →

Is Green AI the Answer to Climate Change?

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has been making strides in various fields, and its application in addressing climate change has been gaining attention in recent years. Green AI is a branch of AI that has recently come to light and it aims to reduce the environmental impact of technology and mitigate climate change. We surely need this the most considering where the world is headed now. It is important to note in the very beginning that to enjoy the best use of Artificial Intelligence today, you do require reliable internet connectivity at all times, and what better way to go than Ziply … Continue reading →

Geothermal Energy for Greenhouse Agriculture: Lessons from the Netherlands for MENA

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The Middle East and North Africa region faces a paradox at the heart of its food future. With more than 70% of the region’s food needs met by imports, climate change accelerating water stress, and over half the population living in countries classified as water-scarce, the case for local food production has never been stronger. Yet conventional open-field agriculture in MENA is brutally water-intensive and increasingly unviable as temperatures rise. Controlled-environment agriculture, and high-tech greenhouses in particular, is widely seen as part of the answer. Greenhouses can cut water consumption by up to 90% compared to open-field farming, enable year-round … Continue reading →

An Interview with Paper Bag Boy of Abu Dhabi

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Abdul Muqeet, also known as the Paper Bag Boy, has risen from being just another ordinary boy to an extraordinary environmentalist spearheading the fight against climate change in United Arab Emirates. Ten-year old Abdul Muqeet has demonstrated remarkable commitment to saving the environment and has won numerous awards including the prestigious Abu Dhabi Award. Here the Paper Bag Boy (PBB) talks to Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, about various aspects of waste management scenario in UAE: SZ: You are considered as the ‘recycling face’ of Abu Dhabi because of your wonderful achievements. Can you give an idea of the prevalent waste management … Continue reading →

Signs You May Have Asbestos in Your House

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If you’re buying a home or doing some makeover, you need to be careful about the presence of asbestos on the walls and other surfaces. Asbestos refers to a mixture of naturally-occurring minerals that are used in building materials. However, the use of this mineral is curtailed because exposure to it can lead to a variety of severe diseases. While your naked eye can’t see asbestos due to its colorless and odorless nature, there are ways to determine whether your home is contaminated with this toxic mineral. Keep reading this article to learn a few signs that can indicate the … Continue reading →

Eco-friendly Ways To Update Your Flooring

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In a changing world where climate change and protecting the environment is constantly making headlines, we want to do the best we can to vote with our money and make options that help the planet. Home renovations can be tricky to navigate when we want to live in an environmentally conscious way. As far as flooring is concerned, there are several factors to consider to make it sustainable. In this article, we will explore the best environmentally-friendly flooring options and how to dispose of your old flooring in an eco-friendly manner: Is Solid Wood Flooring an Environmental Choice? Solid wood … Continue reading →

How Does CFD Trading Work?

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CFD, or contract for difference, refers to a popular financial instrument that is the key component of a trader’s portfolio. CFDs are a form of trading and a popular gateway for a series of investors to enter the financial market. They are offered by brokers for common tradable assets like commodities and spot metals. CFDs are a type of derivative trading. In essence, this means that its value is derived from the price movement of the underlying asset. They basically allow traders to trade the price movement without actually owning the asset. Several platforms including Vantage Markets are among the … Continue reading →

The Environmental Impact of Switching from Plastic to Reusable Cotton Bags

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Plastic bags are one of the most obnoxious types of municipal solid waste. They are infamous for clogging water bodies, disrupting natural ecosystems, contaminating the soil, and causing the death of animals and birds. Plastic bags disintegrate into microplastics, which contaminate water resources and enter the human food chain through marine animals. More than 5 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year which gives a good idea about the scale of danger to the environmental and public health.  But what are the alternatives to plastic bags? Biodegradable plastic, cotton, jute and hemp. and paper bags are some of the … Continue reading →