Trio proposes new methods for ‘a much cleaner Bahrain’

TDT | Manama                 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com 

Report by Zahra Ayaz

In a rare act of innovation, three schoolchildren have come up with a novel concept to handle waste management that will pave the way “for a much cleaner nation”.

The project titled ‘Land Ambulance’ carries the slogan ‘We seek a cleaner environment and support for humanitarian projects’.

The students, Muhammad Taqi, Muhammad Khaled, and Ali Hussein Fadh – implemented the project under the guidance of their coordinator, Nasim Muhammad Ali.

Speaking to media, the students said, “The idea is based on allocating specially equipped vehicles to help the Kingdom’s land surfaces; sustain its cleanliness and protect it from waste, pollution and environmental damages.

“We will keep coloured containers in every location, with each colour denoting a certain waste kind, such as paper, plastic, metal, wet trash, and dry garbage.

This can comprehensively and logically cover every area of the Kingdom.

“For all the house owners it will be convenient as they have to only contact and then the specialized team collects and classifies the waste, in order to recycle it and convert it into a wealth of useful products in order to achieve sustainable development.

We aspire to spread the idea and apply it at the local and maybe international level.”

The efforts are supported by the Ministry of Education to support such innovation, creativity and student projects across public schools, according to sources.

Earlier, The Daily Tribune reported that only 13pc of waste In Bahrain is recycled, quoting a study which highlighted the immense waste crisis the country is currently facing.

A case study carried out by EcoMena, found that Bahrain is one of the highest per capita waste generators worldwide estimated at 1.67-1.80 kg per person per day.

“The Kingdom generates more than 1.2 million tons of solid waste every year. Daily garbage production across the nation exceeds 4,500 tons.

Municipal solid waste is characterized by a high percentage of organic material (around 60pc), which is mainly composed of food wastes.

According to Dr Sumaya Yousif, a Bahraini researcher in the field, wasting food is of grave consequence in a world, where seven million people suffer from hunger everyday globally.

“A person in Bahrain wastes around 132 kilograms of food annually which is a total of 230,000 tons coasting around BD95 million according to the latest UNEP statistic” she said.

“This requires immediate action to prevent this massive waste of food.”

“It is critical to raise awareness about reusing and recycling waste in various ways to prevent wastage such as using innovative cooking methods as well as turning leftovers into compost at individual homes and across the Kingdom.

She also highlighted the importance of developing food banks and societies that preserve food while also emphasizing that it is critical to invest in the education sector within efforts to raise awareness and prepare the future generation to invest in environmental innovations as well as following a circular economy system.