Doha: The Ministry of Municipality has asked all firms to provide and place containers for sorting solid waste at their facilities by October 1, 2022, to avoid legal action.
“Following the decision to sort solid waste, all institutions, companies and entities concerned are required to provide and place waste sorting containers,” said Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Ahmed Youssef Al Emadi. He said it was observed that the decision had not been implemented in a way it should have been.
Starting October 1, municipalities will start taking legal measures and impose penalties on entities not complying with this decision, he said. They should provide two waste sorting containers inside and outside the facilities following Law No. 18 of 2017 on public hygiene
Al Emadi was speaking in an introductory meeting organised by the Ministry of Municipality for ministry officials and representatives of hotels, commercial complexes and relevant institutions in the private sector.
The meeting aimed at raising awareness of the Minister of Municipality’s decision No. 143 of 2022 regarding the rules for the use of plastic bags, which will be applied from November 15, as well as Ministerial Decision No. 170 of 2021 regarding sorting of solid waste.
Al Emadi stressed importance of the role of the private sector as a key partner of the Ministry of Municipality in implementing the two ministerial decisions regarding the rules and regulations for the use of single-use plastic bags and the sorting solid waste.
He said the private sector was a major contributor to economic development in the country, it should fulfil its social responsibility.
“The ministerial decision regarding the use of single-use plastic bags specified a certain type of recyclable bags and prohibited the use of single-use bags because of their negative impact on the environment, as the State seeks to limit the use of these bags,” said Al Emadi.
He said the Ministry of Municipality held meetings with plastic factories to set standards and technical specifications for these bags in implementation of the ministerial decision.
Al Emadi explained that municipalities will monitor the implementation of the ministerial decision regarding the use of single-use plastic bags.
“According to the Food Law, plastic bags have been placed within the health requirements of shops and commercial establishments, and these requirements will be applied to food packaging. These foods will be monitored by the Ministries of Municipality, Commerce and Industry and Public Health,” said Al Emadi.
Director of the Waste Recycling and Treatment Department, Eng Hamad Jassim Al Bahr, said that several meetings were held with companies and factories producing plastic bags to explain the decision, its objectives and the positive results expected from its implementation.
He said the decision will help achieve sustainable development goals and improve waste management in the country, reducing the amount of plastic waste and ensuring the sustainability of resources.
Al Bahr said some factories have switched production lines to implement the required technical specifications according to the ministerial decision, and this will contribute to reducing the quantities of plastic bags.
“As for the executive procedures of the ministerial decision, it stipulates that the plastic bags are printed according to the each category, a symbol indicating that they are biodegradable, reusable or recyclable,” said Al Bahr.
Director of Al Rayan Municipality, Jaber Hassan Al Jaber, said the municipalities, as an executive sector, will monitor the compliance of institutions, companies and shops with the two ministerial decisions.
