SO many people have supported a plastic recycling campaign, which aims to raise money to buy wheelchairs, that collection bins in Bahrain have had to be emptied several times a day.
The large volume coincides with a promotion push during Ashoora, a religious occasion marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussain.
Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of The Disabled, which is behind the plastic initiative, said it was on course for its best year so far.
“We’re expecting to collect more plastic this year than any previous year, thanks to all organisations that are co-operating with us – such as the municipalities and the Supreme Council for Environment – and all the plastic we collected from the ma’tams (Shi’ite community spaces), which will help us get more wheelchairs,” said association woman and child committee head Dalal Al Shurooqi.
“While previously we would have to empty out the collection bins once a week, now we have to do that several times a day because we have so many donations.
“We also had to set up more collection locations to receive all the donations.
“Although we do not get as much for the plastic as we once did, due to current financial difficulties in the country, we are collecting more plastic than before which can help make up for that.”
The GDN previously reported that money raised from recycling plastic waste was being used to buy wheelchairs worth between BD1,000 and BD4,000 in co-ordination with the association.
It is not yet clear how many wheelchairs will be purchased as a result of the Ashoora recycling campaign, but 20 wheelchairs remains the target.
Ms Al Shurooqi previously told the GDN that each tonne of plastic sold was worth BD25.
The association has been collecting plastic for the project since 2013, so far managing to buy over 40 wheelchairs.
Hundreds of mosques and ma’tams, procession organisers and food stalls set up to mark Ashoora this year supported the drive.
Bahrain’s two sanitation companies, municipal bodies across the country, the Interior Ministry and the Jaffari Waqf (Endowment) Directorate – which oversees Shi’ite religious properties – also signed up as partners.
A total of 618 ma’tams and 751 mosques overseen by the Jaffari Waqf (Endowment) Directorate participated, with volunteer groups such as Bahrain EcoHub also getting involved.
ghazi@gdn.com.bh
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