Bahrain's private sector urged to ‘invest’ in waste recycling, treatment and reuse
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The Supreme Council for Environment is working to develop a long-term waste management system in the Kingdom of Bahrain in cooperation with the relevant authorities and private sector.
This was confirmed by Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and CEO of the Supreme Council for Environment Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina who said it is based on the integrated national strategy for waste management approved by the Cabinet.
Dr Bin Daina took part yesterday in a symposium entitled “Opportunities Available in Recycling” which was held remotely and organised by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in cooperation with the Council and Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.
He gave a presentation detailing the Council’s future plans and current projects and referred to a number of success stories about investing in waste recycling, treatment and reuse in cooperation with the private sector.
They include the establishment of a 35,000-tonne aluminium lining cell treatment and recycling unit by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), which will start operation this year.
He stressed the role of the private and public sectors in achieving environmental goals, and exchanging stories of successful cooperation in recycling and reducing waste.
Dr Bin Daina also stressed the need to invest in recycling and treating various types of waste generated in the primary and transformative aluminium industry, for which Bahrain plays an important centre in the region and the world.
He noted that there is a need to invest in the recycling of electronic and electrical waste due to the increasing volume of production.
The Council is seeking the lawmakers’ help in issuing special legislation regulating the management of this type of waste to encourage the private sector to invest in it.
Undersecretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said that the Works Ministry, with the help of experts in this field, is currently studying the establishment of a waste recycling plant.
The Ministry is expecting the completion of research studies for this project soon for its implementation.
Shaikh Mohammed said that the Ministry, in cooperation with the private sector, has succeeded in setting up a pilot project to recycle construction and demolition waste, which amounts to 600,000 tonnes.
They were treated and turned into useful products. About 79,000 tonnes of green waste were also recycled and converted into fertilisers and reused last year.
The Undersecretary revealed that the largest volume of waste comes from the household, followed by construction and building materials, and industrial and commercial products.
With regard to waste tyres, he said that Bahrain exports large quantities of them to Malaysia for recycling. The Kingdom produces 8,939 tonnes of waste tyres annually that are dumped at the Askar landfill.
Meanwhile, BCCI’s Industry and Energy Committee chairman Farid Badr stressed that plans are underway to implement various programmes on sustainable development in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
Related Posts