'Beach cleanups in Bahrain disorganised and done for social media popularity'
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Bahrain-based environmentalist Kai Miethig has revealed that beach cleanups are almost always disorganized and seem to be done mainly for popularity on social media.
The German waste management entrepreneur said that organizers distribute single-use items like thin rubber (medical gloves) or cotton gloves to organizers, which can only be thrown away instead of being reused.
"They distribute plastic bottles of water, juice, and wrapped food, among other things, without adequately separating recyclables from waste, which results in greater waste in contradiction to their activities."
He observed that sometimes the volunteers even take out the bushes at the beach rather than cleaning them, as it’s "more convenient." "There is no formal, stringent briefing; instead, people show off to feel good and take photos for social media, but few of them care about the environment."
Mr. Miethig also believes that those who discard trash along roadsides and on beaches should be fined and punished. As stated by a study, during the summer, the amount of plastic waste goes up by 40 percent, and some of it ends up in the sea.
Around 80 percent of poorly managed waste ends up in nature, increasing pollution. The most frequently littered items include fast food packaging, cigarette butts, used drink bottles, chewing gum wrappers, broken electrical equipment parts, toys, broken glass, food scraps, or green waste.
Even practises such as leaving items overflowing beside a dustbin, deliberate throwing of items from vehicles, and abandoning items or wrappers by the roadside qualify as littering. "Waste management is not rocket science, but sadly, nothing will change as long as no fines or penalties are imposed," he said.
"There is actually no need to even have waste bins and cleaners at beaches during the summer. Instead, people should just change their habits. As a certified lifeguard on beaches during duty, I approach people directly and request that they collect their trash and dispose of it properly or take it back home. However, some are polite and clean up; others become furious and refuse."
"A garbage patrol backed by police with on-the-spot fines, similar to what they used to do during the coronavirus pandemic for not wearing masks, would be quite beneficial and encourage people to keep the places clean," he added. The Daily Tribune attempted to contact a few cleanup teams, organizations, and volunteers in the meantime; however, they did not immediately respond to the allegations.
Kai Khalid Miethig is a German Architect and Project Manager with almost 20 years of experience in the fields of design, project management, and site supervision, as well as expertise in waste and material resource management and training. Living in the Middle East for more than 15 years and, since 2007, based in Bahrain, he is passionate about environmental awareness and waste management. Moreover, he is involved in various projects related to waste management in the region and supports various environmental groups.
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