MUSCAT: Oman Environmental Holding Services Company (be’ah) says it has ambitious targets to reduce the amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfills through the adoption of a recycling and reuse strategy covering 60 per cent of solid waste by 2025.
To this end, it has formulated plans for the recycling of commercially valuable wastes such as construction and demolition waste, used tyres, lead acid batteries and so on, to help achieve sustainability and reduce primary resource extraction.
Fahad bin Ali Kharousi, Head of Planning — Municipal Waste, said be’ah presently oversees solid waste collection covering 100 per cent of the population. These services are provide through contractual arrangements with specialised international companies. At least 10 engineered landfills and 16 transfer stations are also part of the company’s solid waste management infrastructure, he noted.
Al Kharousi acknowledged that be’ah continues to face challenges particularly with regard to the improper waste disposal habits of some individuals in society. He cited the “increasing phenomenon” of trash dumping outside designated waste bins, wanton disfiguring and destruction of bins and the practice of leaving livestock offal by the roadside. These practices, he warned, not only mars the beauty of Oman’s natural settings, but also contributes to the growth of pests like rodents. Likewise, construction debris should only be disposed of in designated sites, he added. (With inputs from ONA)