New centre to help recycle plastic waste in Middle East

The University of Sheffield, in partnership with Qatar University (QU) and The Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) in the Middle East, has launched a new centre for the production of environmentally-friendly materials for local industries. The Polymer Centre, which will focus on recycling plastic waste in Qatar, will bring researchers from the two countries together to optimise the mechanical properties of blends from plastic waste, improve thermal stability of recycled blends and carry out a life-cycle analysis of recycled polymer products. The initiative, which is expected to start in June this year and go on until 2012, will be led by Dr Mariam al-Ali AlMa´adeed, Head of the Materials Technology Unit at Qatar University; Dr Ramazan Kahraman, of Qatar University´s Chemical Engineering Department; and Dr Alma Hodzic, senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield´s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Qatar is one of the largest polymer-producing countries in the region and it is therefore appropriate that Qatar University, as the national university, takes a lead in promoting waste reducing and recycling initiatives in the region. Dr Alma Hodzic said: "The research carried out at the Centre will focus on recycling polymer waste in Qatar. The main target is to optimise the plastic products to withstand the high temperature prevalent here. This is a fantastic initiative as it not only aims to have a positive impact on the environment, but it will also involve a number of exchanges and visits between the two universities." Dr Mariam al-Ali AlMa´adeed added: "As part of the programme there will be an exchange of researchers between both Universities.