Bahrain’s national waste management strategy is on the right track, said His Majesty’s Personal Representative, Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
The plan was endorsed by the Cabinet in February 2018, based on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
He made the statement as he chaired a meeting which was held at the Crown Prince’s Court, to shed light on the progress of the implementation of the national waste management strategy.
The meeting was attended by SCE Deputy President HH Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al-Khalifa, Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs Dr. Nabeel Mohammed Abul Fateh and SCE Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohammed Mubarak bin Daina.
HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al-Khalifa directed to set up an across-the-board committee to follow up the implementation of the national waste management strategy and submit periodic reports highlight the progress of work on the blueprint.
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf gave a presentation on initiatives undertaken by the ministry in line with the outcome of the national waste management strategy.
The presentation shed light on the progress of work on the landfill project which was awarded by the Tender Board, under a three year-contract, to the Urbaser company, which will undertake the management the landfill project, as from September 2019.
The management of the landfill by the private sector will contribute to tackling and monitoring emissions, lengthening its life span and strengthening monitoring operations.
The meeting discussed the recycling of construction waste in cooperation to the private sector to be used in infrastructure projects. The contract was awarded in January 2019 to Nass Company, which contributed to slashing the quantity of construction waste dumped in the landfill by 50%.
Work is now being stepped up to reduce the total quantity of construction wasted to zero by end 2019. The meeting discussed the recycling waste into fertilizers. Other key projects also came under the spotlight.