Doha: To enhance the government programme for sorting out wastes at source, the Ministry of Municipality is adding a new feature to its mobile app to guide people to the nearest point for disposing of wastes for recycling purpose.
“The mobile app ‘Oun’ will enable citizens and expatriates to dispose of wastes to support recycling practice in the country for sustainability and protecting environment,” said Director of General Cleanliness Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Muqbil Madhour Al Shammari.
Speaking in a Qatar Radio programme, he said hygiene is one of the major indicators to measure the civilisation of any nation. “Sorting out wastes at sources is part of general cleanliness which brings many economic and environmental benefits such as reducing large quantity of wastes to landfill, ensuring sustainability and environment preservation goals of Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Al Shammari.
He said the decision for sorting solid wastes, which was issued last week by Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie will support the programme for sorting out wastes at source and promote recycling in the country.
“The most important point of the decision is that it defines solid wastes, recyclable materials, and reusable materials such as papers, plastic bottles, glasses and cans.” He said the decision came in support to a programme for sorting out wastes at source which was launched in 2019 for utilising the recyclable materials by the community. “This also coincides with activities of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 which encourages recycling practices,” said Al Shammari.
He added that awareness campaigns began in 2018, encouraging people to recycle waste. “This decision will enhance the drive for recycling, involving all members of the community including citizens and expatriates.”
Last week the Minister of Municipality issued a ministerial decision regarding solid waste sorting, mandating companies, institutions, commercial and residential complexes, hotel establishments, commercial, industrial and similar public stores, and buildings operators except homes, to provide and use an appropriate number of containers to sort out wastes resulting from their activities.
They have also been asked to dispose of waste in two types of containers following specifications — recyclable materials in blue container and residual (organic) wastes in grey container.
Recyclable waste are the materials that can be reused or recycled, such as paper, plastic, iron and glass. Residual waste is the waste, or materials that are treated and disposed of permanently, such as food residues and cleaning products.
