What is the current state of waste management in the Middle East and how important is recycling in the scheme of things?

The waste quantities in the region are increasing due to fast urbanisation, industrialisation, commercialisation as well as high consumerism and improvement in general standard of living. These huge quantities of municipal, industrial, healthcare and agricultural waste are making it difficult for the local authorities to provide appropriate storage, transportation, treatment and disposal facilities. Waste management is now one of the major environmental challenges being faced by the Gulf countries. Around 51 million residents are generating 26 million mt/year of municipal solid waste per year. The per capita solid waste generation is also the highest among these countries. 

Waste that is generated is required to be stored, separated, transported, treated and disposed, all of which have an economic, social and environmental burden which are taken by the respective municipalities and government organisations. The recycling rate in the region is low due to limited awareness, high cost of collection and reduce market for recyclables. But with time the recycling rate will gradually increase as more emphasis is now being given to separately collect and recycle metals, plastics, etc.

What are your views on the development of the sector in the region and what are the major challenges being faced?

Waste management is taken very seriously by the local authorities as they understand the environmental impacts of uncollected and treated waste. The waste collection is mostly privatised and many companies are involved in collection and recycling of useful constituents of waste to make saleable and environmental friendly products. The major challenges being faced include the involvement of the stake holders and limited awareness among the waste generators.

What are the programmes and methods being used to enhance the performance of the waste management sector in general?

The common waste disposal location in Gulf countries is still the landfill sites accommodating major quantities of municipal and agricultural waste. Healthcare waste is usually treated by state-of-the-art incineration and other thermal technologies. The main task involves communication with the industries and waste generators in the management of industrial waste and assessing their impacts. With the establishment and operation of an engineered industrial landfill site, wastes are properly being accommodated and contained. The resident awareness programmes on waste management have also been initiated in almost all gulf countries enabling the waste generators to understand the different dimensions of the problem and to participate in its proper storage and disposal.

What inspired you to enter the waste management industry?

I started my career as civil engineer working with the largest consulting engineering company in my country. Later, I did Masters in Environmental Engineering, Diploma and Masters in Sanitary Engineering from the International Institute for Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, Delft, The Netherlands. I worked in the consulting environmental sector for over 17 years before joining the Supreme Council for Environment, Kingdom of Bahrain where I have been serving for more than 18 years in the waste management division. Waste recycling has been my subject of interest for the past three decades. I was instrumental in planning, designing, constructing, operating and managing waste management and disposal facilities. Besides, I have written two books, one on ‘waste rubber recycling’ and the other on ‘organic waste utilisation’ by making compost. Both these books were sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation. In addition, I have written many technical papers on the subject and have taught graduate and post graduate classes, the subject of waste management. I have also conducted comprehensive one day courses on environmental legislation and industrial waste management.

What are the key problems Bahrain faces in effectively implementing waste management and recycling projects? And how are you addressing these issues?

The key constraints in waste management are high population growth and density, limitations of land availability and high number of visitors due to which excess quantities of waste are generated. There are continuing efforts to enhance recycling rates and create awareness among the residents in separating and storing recyclables. Recycling companies are also being encouraged to establish units and facilities in the country.

What are your key objectives for the coming years, and what are the changes one can expect to see in the waste management sector in the near future?

Waste management is a big challenge which is being handled by respective national organisations. The forward planning includes material recovery through efficient sorting, establishing of engineered sanitary landfill site and feasible thermal facilities, enhancing waste recycling and creating awareness on the subject from grassroots and community level. We expect to have an environmentally feasible, sustainable and socially acceptable waste management system which is understood and practiced by all stakeholders eliminating any adverse impacts on the environmental resources.

What do you love most about your job, and what is the most challenging aspect?

I am very enthusiastic about my job dealing mainly in industrial waste management, communicating with waste generators who would like that the waste generated is disposed at the earliest and in an eco-friendly manner in order to preserve environmental resources. With time the perceptions are changing, earlier people tended to dispose their waste without bothering about safe disposal methods, but due to increasing awareness, education and legislations, there has been a change in approach. I feel happy that waste management is now being taken as a priority by all stake holders and there should be improvement in the situation with time. The awareness among the children and students are also increasing and I hope that our future generation will be more responsible and dutiful and will attend to all environemtnal problems making it a better world to live in.

What is your advice for upcoming entrepreneurs in the waste management and recycling sector?

Waste management and recycling is currently providing a good opportunity for entrepreneurs in having a sound and profitable business on one hand and eliminating impact of waste transportation and disposal on the other. Involving students, residents and stake holders will be an additional advantage that will help in changing behaviours and attitudes towards waste generation and its management.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy reading on topics related to waste management and environmental conservation. I love to deliver lectures and presentations especially to enthusiastic students who are eager to understand and participate in waste management and environmental activities. I have been writing a weekly column on environment in a local English newspaper in Bahrain for the past three years, which is very well read mainly by school children and environmental enthusiasts.