06 April 2011
MUSCAT -- Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (OESHCO), which has the mandate to restructure and privatise the country's solid waste sector, will shortly launch a national survey of all solid wastes generated across the Sultanate.
The initiative, according to Azhar Haroun al Kindi (pictured), CEO of the government-run entity, is the first step in a long-term effort to manage solid wastes in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.
Addressing a seminar on Solid Waste Management, held at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) yesterday, Al Kindi said the comprehensive survey -- due to be rolled out over the next 2-3 months -- will cover all kinds of solid wastes -- municipal, medical, hazardous, electronic, construction debris, and waste tyres, among other types.
The daylong seminar was jointly organised by the Embassy of Sweden and OESHCO.
In a presentation on Oman's solid waste management strategy, Al Kindi said the survey would help provide up-to-date insights into the types and quantities of solid wastes generated around the Sultanate, thereby enabling the formulation of effective strategies to manage these volumes.
Typically, waste production averages 1.62 kilos per person per year, which translates to 4,370 tonnes of waste per day or 1.6 million tonnes per year. But this volume does not include the vast amounts of hazardous, medical, electronic and other types of solid waste produced annually, the CEO added.
"The ever increasing amount of solid waste is of great concern, which must be tackled concretely and efficiently, but more importantly, in an economic, viable, sustainable and cost-effective ways. In line with this goal, the Government of Oman decided recently to develop a new framework -- a national policy -- to regulate and manage the solid waste sector in the Sultanate. As a result of this strategic decision, OESCHCO was established to streamline and centralise waste management and environmental protection activities across the country," Al Kindi stated.
As part of its responsibility to restructure the sector, OESHCO may be required to revamp or reorganise existing waste management entities, as well as establish new entities altogether. Also envisaged are subsidiaries tasked with overseeing the ownership, management and operation of existing solid waste facilities and to provide solid waste management services in specific regions, Al Kindi said.
Furthermore, in conjunction with the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy, OESHCO will address a number of current challenges, notably the deteriorating condition of existing landfills, the CEO explained.
Of the 350 dumpsites currently located around the country, only two are designed to modern standards. The remainder will have to be rehabilitated and safely shut over the next five years, he said.
New sanitary landfills, Al Kindi said, will only be built in suitable locations to minimise impacts to the environment and the surrounding communities. Towards this end, OESHCO has floated tenders to identify locations for all new waste management facilities throughout the country. On these sites will be constructed 16 new sanitary landfills, 65 waste transfer stations and four treatment plants to address the 'emergency' requirements of the waste sector over the 2011-2015 timeframe, he said.
Also envisaged for 'fast-track' implementation during the same timeframe are a number of major initiatives, notably a solid waste management project at Barka, and a medical waste collection, treatment and disposal facility in Dhofar Governorate. In addition, OESCHO will invite the private sector to undertake several so-called 'quick-win' initiatives during this period, notably in the areas of waste management master-planning, recycling, and so on.
MUSCAT -- Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (OESHCO), which has the mandate to restructure and privatise the country's solid waste sector, will shortly launch a national survey of all solid wastes generated across the Sultanate.
The initiative, according to Azhar Haroun al Kindi (pictured), CEO of the government-run entity, is the first step in a long-term effort to manage solid wastes in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.
Addressing a seminar on Solid Waste Management, held at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) yesterday, Al Kindi said the comprehensive survey -- due to be rolled out over the next 2-3 months -- will cover all kinds of solid wastes -- municipal, medical, hazardous, electronic, construction debris, and waste tyres, among other types.
The daylong seminar was jointly organised by the Embassy of Sweden and OESHCO.
In a presentation on Oman's solid waste management strategy, Al Kindi said the survey would help provide up-to-date insights into the types and quantities of solid wastes generated around the Sultanate, thereby enabling the formulation of effective strategies to manage these volumes.
Typically, waste production averages 1.62 kilos per person per year, which translates to 4,370 tonnes of waste per day or 1.6 million tonnes per year. But this volume does not include the vast amounts of hazardous, medical, electronic and other types of solid waste produced annually, the CEO added.
"The ever increasing amount of solid waste is of great concern, which must be tackled concretely and efficiently, but more importantly, in an economic, viable, sustainable and cost-effective ways. In line with this goal, the Government of Oman decided recently to develop a new framework -- a national policy -- to regulate and manage the solid waste sector in the Sultanate. As a result of this strategic decision, OESCHCO was established to streamline and centralise waste management and environmental protection activities across the country," Al Kindi stated.
As part of its responsibility to restructure the sector, OESHCO may be required to revamp or reorganise existing waste management entities, as well as establish new entities altogether. Also envisaged are subsidiaries tasked with overseeing the ownership, management and operation of existing solid waste facilities and to provide solid waste management services in specific regions, Al Kindi said.
Furthermore, in conjunction with the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy, OESHCO will address a number of current challenges, notably the deteriorating condition of existing landfills, the CEO explained.
Of the 350 dumpsites currently located around the country, only two are designed to modern standards. The remainder will have to be rehabilitated and safely shut over the next five years, he said.
New sanitary landfills, Al Kindi said, will only be built in suitable locations to minimise impacts to the environment and the surrounding communities. Towards this end, OESHCO has floated tenders to identify locations for all new waste management facilities throughout the country. On these sites will be constructed 16 new sanitary landfills, 65 waste transfer stations and four treatment plants to address the 'emergency' requirements of the waste sector over the 2011-2015 timeframe, he said.
Also envisaged for 'fast-track' implementation during the same timeframe are a number of major initiatives, notably a solid waste management project at Barka, and a medical waste collection, treatment and disposal facility in Dhofar Governorate. In addition, OESCHO will invite the private sector to undertake several so-called 'quick-win' initiatives during this period, notably in the areas of waste management master-planning, recycling, and so on.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
