DOHA: Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) will suggest to the government that it formulate and implement laws for waste management to protect the environment, Dr Saif Al Hajari, Chairman, FEC, said yesterday.
"We will propose to the government to make and enforce laws, and educate and make the public aware about waste management," said Dr Al Hajari, while addressing a seminar on 'Recycling in the Arabian Gulf' organised jointly by the UNESCO office in Doha and FEC.
The GCC countries are facing many challenges in waste management. Qatar has much knowledge and awareness but the latest technology or proper plans are not available, Dr Al Hajari added.
Participants from Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia made presentations on how waste management and recycling is practiced and what difficulties are faced in their respective countries.
In her presentation, Afifa Ibrahim, representing the Electronic Friends of Environment, Bahrain, said the overall increase in consumption of resources had become a difficult issue to handle.
"An effective sustainable solution is needed to address this growing problem involving all key sectors of the society," Ibrahim said.
Oman, a country with little experience in recycling within the region, has started recycling projects in schools and expects to expand them to other institutions in the country.
"Four years ago, we started the recycling project with 20 private schools and have expanded to public schools. Embassies, ministries and hospitals have showed some interest, hope they will join soon," said Nada Al Helou of the Omani Environment Society.
Ali Al Attass, representing Wasit environmental consultants from Saudi Arabia, speaking on the challenges of recycling, said: "Many issues make recycling difficult. Collection, cost, technology are the main areas which make recycling difficult."
There is a dire need to identify the actual solid waste output of the UAE, said Dr Habeeba Al Marashi from the Emirates Environment group. "There is a lack of coherent and reliable data on waste to meet the solid waste problem of the UAE, said Dr Al Marashi.
The co-organiser of the seminar, UNESCO, has come forward to assist Qatar and the Gulf countries to establish urgently required recycling capacity.
By Fazeena Saleem
© The Peninsula 2009
