Say no to non-degradable plastic

TDT | Manama

Scientists have warned that if current trends in plastic continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050. While some countries, who are also major plastic producers, are relatively good at managing the threat, the majority of the others are not so good at the same. However, the world is waking up to the problem, with governments starting to act.

Reports say an impressive and growing number of nations have taken action against plastic pollution. Bahrain is one amongst them. The Kingdom which started its battle against plastic pollution on 21 July 2019, is moving on to its next phase starting today.

The battle which began by rolling out a ban on single-use plastic bags, as well as the import of non-biodegradable plastic bags, will now include non-degradable polyethene and Polypropylene sheets. As per the Supreme Council for Environment, starting today, there is a total ban on importing as well as the production of disposable plastic table mats and covers.

The single-use plastic ban came into effect in the Kingdom as per Ministerial Order Number (11) in a bid to reduce the production of plastic waste by controlling its consumption. HRH the Crown Prince’s directives and the issuance of Ministerial Order Number (2) for the year 2019 allowed Bahrain to join leading countries in banning the import of plastic waste, following the United Nation’s call to mitigate ocean pollution and climate change.

Meaning, Bahraini factories are now allowed to manufacture only biodegradable plastic bags. Following which and as per resolution no 11 of 2019, municipalities in the Kingdom collaborated with Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning to install automated garbage bag vending machines in selected locations.

These machines, designed to store and provide new eco-friendly and biodegradable garbage bags, is helping residents who need them by verifying the users’ ID card number and Electricity &Water Authority (EWA) account number to check the eligibility.

Community role However, to effectively manage the threat, there is a need to slow the flow of the plastic at its source, which is not possible without community involvement. Researchers say only 9 per cent of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. About 12pc has been incinerated, while the rest — 79pc — has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.

Bahrain has devised several projects to ensures community participation. O n e such initiative in this regard is that by The Bahrain association for parents and friends of the disabled. They are collecting plastic water bottles all around the year for selling it to recyclers to provide disabled individuals with wheelchairs.

The Supreme Council for the Environment also issues licences for exporting waste to other countries for processing or recycling. Recycling IT waste To tackle this problem, Bahrain has come up with several IT Recycling initiatives where old devices are collected, repaired or refurbished and reused.

The project has raised Bahrain’s rating in the eWaste Recycling Technology from level one to level three under the Centre for Environment Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE). Coordinating all these efforts is the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), which also responds to any environmental incidents.

Any environmental incident can be reported to SCE by calling on 80001112 or submitting a case online through The National Suggestion & Complaint System (Tawasul). Phase 2 overview SCE also held an awareness-raising webinar on phase 2 recently with the Testing and Metrology Directorate of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The webinar explained the requirements and licensing procedures for plastic products which can be done online. The technical and marketing requirements, in addition to market surveillance procedures and import requirements, were also deliberated. The other side Researchers, however, have also pointed out that the efforts to end plastic packaging are actually doing more harm to the environment.

BBC in a report says that firms are swapping to other materials which are potential every worse for the environment. Paper bags, the report cites have higher carbon emission than plastic bags and are more difficult to reuse.

It also points out that several shops are selling more drinks in coated cartons under the assumption that they can be recycled. The Green Alliance in its report says, “Over 80 per cent of consumers think biodegradable or compostable plastic is environmentally friendly, but there is little understanding of what the terms mean and how the material should be dealt with.”