Meshal Al Shamari, Director, QGBC pic: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
As a result of continuous efforts by the government and other organisations, awareness about recycling among the public has increased over the past few years. Also Qatar has opened several new recycling facilities, especially after the blockade, said Meshal Al Shamari, Director, Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).
“The level of awareness about recycling in the society has increased over the past seven years. It is a good sign to see that people even at small establishments separate the waste and dispose them accordingly. It is something being built within the society and adopting a new culture,” Al Shamari said, speaking on the sidelines of an event held recently to mark the No Paper Day by QGBC. “Several paper, metal, glass and other recycling factories have opened in the country recently,” he added.
He also highlighted that the government gives special attention to waste management and treatment, due to its keenness to reduce waste’s effects on health, maintain a civic view of the country, and promote waste reduction practices.
QGBC, a member of the Qatar Foundation(QF) provides leadership and collaboration for Qatar in guiding and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.
“The paper waste in Qatar is about 5million A4 sheets per day. We introduced the No Paper Day about seven years ago and companies have showed a huge growing support and interest to this initiative,” said Al Shamari.
The initiative has also included other items like glass, plastic, and e- waste. Referring to plastic, dubbed as a major polluter of the environment, Al Shamari said, “500,000 to one million plastic bottles are used in Qatar each year. It’s a huge number. Some institutions like the QF have already started to reduce of plastic.”
“QF was using about 3000 plastic bottles per day and it has been completely stopped. Several other institutions have also adopted the practice, ” he added.
Al Shamari also mentioned that environment friendly practices such as reducing the use of paper plastic and recycling need personal commitment from the individuals. “We see the attitude of people towards the use of plastic is changing positively. But it might take time to have wide awareness in the society,” he added.
QGBC has also started to work with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to reach out to the community about reducing plastic use.
