Kuwait: New strategy in place to tackle 'waste disposal'

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'Panel controlling sites'

KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait is a pioneering country in waste management as it has 16 dumping sites at various locations, says Director of Industrial Administration at the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Eng Mohammed Al-Enezi.

In a recent statement to KUNA, Al-Enezi disclosed the Qurain dumping site is the brain child of EPA as part of its commitment to solve the environmental problems in Kuwait.  He said the dumping site in Qurain is the smallest among the 16 sites, which occupy areas measuring from one to 10 square kilometers.  He asserted the authority took the initiative in 1995 to address the environmental concerns of the country.

Asked about the environmental issues in Sabah Al-Ahmad City, Al-Enezi stated the dumping site, which is located along kilometer 14, about 16 kilometers away from Umm Al-Haiman and four kilometers away from the residential area in Sabah Al-Ahmad, is for liquid industrial waste.  He warned the site might negatively affect the area in the future due to its location and the wind.

Affirming the Kuwaiti government has laid down a new strategy to identify the waste disposal sites in the country, Al-Enezi explained there are close and open dumping sites.  He said the open sites are for all types of waste, indicating the Cabinet formed a committee, consisting of members from EPA, Kuwait Municipality and other relevant institutions, tasked to prepare and control the dumping sites in 2002. 

He added the committee has been controlling the sites for home waste material over the last years.

On the preparation of a liquid industrial waste dumping site along kilometer 14 in Wafra, Al-Enezi revealed a number of researchers from Kuwait University (KU) prepared the site four months ago.  He said several experts from the US and Germany visited the country to check the site and find suitable solutions for its rehabilitation.

About the establishment of the liquid industrial waste processing plant along kilometer 30 in Wafra, Al-Enezi declared the project is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.  He believes the plant will be a prominent landmark of the successful environmental work in the country -- a new addition to the achievements of the committee in charge of the dumping sites.  He went on to say that the establishment of this plant is the result of a study on the inappropriate dumping of liquid industrial waste in Mina Abdullah and kilometer 14 in Wafra.  He asserted the committee has studied all kinds of incoming and outgoing water, as well as the sources and quantity.  Results of the study showed the problem is getting worse, so the committee invited tenders for the establishment of the central emergency plant, he added.

Al-Enezi stressed, "We assure the citizens and residents that in the coming years the environmental problems in this area will be over as the government is keen on addressing the issue.  EPA has laid down new strategies in this regard and solved the environmental problems in South Kuwait."

© Arab Times 2010