High demand for rubbish bags sparks urgent solutions

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Northern Municipality is straining under high demand, distributing nearly 28,000 bundles of rubbish bags each month.

This matches the combined output of the other three governorates, as councillors press for quicker fixes to machine problems.

Meeting yesterday, the Northern Municipal Council backed several proposals, among them a car park at the former Diraz scrapyard, new parking spaces near Hamza Mosque in A’ali, and public parking in Block 583 of Madinat Salman.

Council member Abdullah Ashour, raised concerns over difficulties faced by residents trying to collect rubbish bags through ‘Easy’ self-service machines using the new smart ID cards.

Ashour said both he and other council members had been contacted by people unable to access bags through the machines, which only recognise the updated cards.

He called for service centres in A’ali and Budaiya to reopen, following the example of the branch already active in Hamad Town.

The Council member also urged the creation of an automatic link between the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, to ensure residents’ card details are updated without delay.

Responding to the matter, Engineer Lamya Al Fadalah, Director General of the Northern Municipality, said a collection point had already been set up at Hamad Town for those unable to use the machines.

She explained that the Northern Municipality alone distributes about 28,000 bundles every month through ‘Easy’.

This matches the combined distribution of Bahrain’s other three governorates.

Al Fadalah said the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture had ordered lasting solutions after machines began failing to recognise the new cards. Work is being done to fix the problem.

She also responded to calls for emergency supplies of rubbish bags at service counters, saying the municipality must observe strict controls on distribution and maintain full compliance with administrative and financial rules.

Al Fadalah added that the Hamad Town branch was set up to help residents struggling with the machines, while efforts continue to adapt them to the newer cards.