Household waste thrown on private property putting people’s health at risk: Bahrain
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
While many private property is being exploited to dump waste, the garbage problem still continues within Manama. The current situation, which presents a challenge for policymakers and puts citizens’ health at risk, is caused by the growing population in Bahrain.
At present, there is increasing pressure on all GCC countries to reduce waste and become more sustainable with a growing emphasis on a circular economy. Experts pointed out that the Kingdom’s generation of waste per capita is increasing with large-scale infrastructure development.
Data gathered within the past 30 years have all revealed significant annual increases in residential, commercial, demolition, industrial and agricultural wastes. Such factors pose major environmental concerns when considering the impact of waste management services and in facilitating waste disposal.
With limited land available and a scarcity of waste disposal sites, managing all the waste being generated in a scientific manner is a highly challenging task for policymakers and municipalities in Bahrain. Experts believe the main challenge in residential waste collection with regard to gated communities where they operate is the effort required to encourage them to reduce their waste footprint by segregating the recyclables.
The municipalities do place recycling bins at specific points and they also inform the residents of the facility. Kai Mieting, a waste entrepreneur and environmental activist, was earlier contacted by The Daily Tribune about the issue.
He noted that “illegal waste dumping is a general problem worldwide, and usually not all residents are guilty. The blame is on people who throw trash carelessly on nearby private plots just because they are too lazy to go and look for garbage bins in their areas.”
He said it is everyone’s responsibility to care for our environment, nature, surroundings, and living space. No one of those illegal dumpers would dump it in their own living space but elsewhere it seems acceptable.
Mr.Kai also highlighted another issue: the impact on health and the environment through illegal dumping as the emissions and smell could cause serious harm to humans, animals, and nature. The Kingdom has recently commissioned experts to prepare a National Waste Strategy according to a report.
The strategy is consistent with the waste management hierarchy, resource recovery, and conservation, and integrated sustainable waste management. This also aligned with other national plans and policies including the National Environmental Strategy, Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and National Land Policy.
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