New rules require licence and GPS for waste trucks

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Transporters in Bahrain must now equip every waste-hauling vehicle with GPS tracking and obtain individual licences under stricter rules aimed at improving oversight and protecting the environment.

Every licence application must include proof of vehicle ownership, a report on its waste transport activities, and a plan for managing spills or accidents. Ve h i c l e s m u s t a l s o b e equipped with GPS tracking systems and sensors to monitor waste handling, which must be linked to an electronic monitoring system overseen by the Supreme Council for Environment.

The rules, issued under Decision No. (7) of 2024 by His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council for Environment, aim to tighten regulation of waste transport.

Conditions

Licences will only be granted once applicants meet all conditions, including paying fees set out in earlier government decisions.

Transporters must adhere to strict conditions, including only delivering waste to approved sites and ensuring all tracking and monitoring systems remain fully operational.

If these systems fail, vehicles cannot be used to transport waste.

The council may assign an outside company to supply and maintain the required equipment, provided all data is shared with the relevant authorities.

Standards

Vehicles must also meet specific standards based on the type of waste they carry, as detailed in the regulations.

Non-compliance will lead to penalties, including licence suspensions of up to three months for breaches such as providing false information or using unsuitable vehicles.

Repeated offences or a failure to correct violations could result in permanent revocation of the licence.