A WHOPPING 50,000kg of rubbish have been collected from Bahrain’s beaches and public areas by an environmental non-profit group over the last six years, it has been revealed.
Clean-up Bahrain and its team of proactive volunteers picked up 3,400kg of waste on Saturday from beaches in Janabiya and Malkiya as part of their latest drive, aimed at raising collective awareness on preserving the environment and reducing litter.
The drive was also held to mark World Clean-up Day, observed every third Saturday of September since 2018.
Clean-up Bahrain co-founder and vice-chair Ruqaya Hashem said 350 volunteers took part in the latest campaign, including Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
“Our campaigns are derived from our passion to make a difference and create a better future for the next generation,” Ms Hashem told the GDN.
“Since our inception in 2018, we have managed to collect more than 50,000kg of rubbish from beaches across Bahrain.
“Last week, we had gathered at the beaches of Janabiya and Malkiya, with our volunteers picking up more than 3,400kg of waste, including plastic bags and bottles, wrappers, crisps packets and discarded tissues over a period of two hours.”
The most recent clean-up was a ‘move for the future’, according to Ms Hashem.
“It was about taking that first transformative step, knowing that our actions today will reverberate for generations to come,” she said.
More than 170 trillion plastic particles, with a combined weight of about two million tonnes, are currently afloat in the oceans worldwide, according to a new international study.
Scientists across the world have called for a reduction in the production of plastics and increased awareness among people, warning that clean-up would be futile if they continue to be pumped into the environment at the current rate. They also say that without immediate global action, the rate of plastic entering aquatic environments is expected to increase approximately 2.6-fold by 2040, further endangering humans and the marine environment.
“We want to instil environmental values in our children, for the parents to lead by example,” Ms Hashem said.
“By involving youngsters in clean-up activities, we nurture their connection with nature, allowing them to grow into stewards of our planet.”
Ms Hashem expressed her gratitude to Mr Al Mubarak for his contribution, dedication and active participation.
“We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every volunteer who graciously dedicated their precious time to our cause, as well as to all the phenomenal supporters who have stood by us, near and far. Your efforts have truly made an extraordinary difference and together, we have the power to achieve remarkable feats and leave a bright future for generations to come.”
The collected waste from Janabiya and Malkiya have been transported to the Askar Landfill in the Southern Governorate.
Clean-up Bahrain hasn’t announced new campaigns owing to the hot and humid weather conditions.
Ms Hashem, however, has encouraged volunteers to follow the group on Instagram @cleanupbahrain for future announcements.
The GDN reported on June 6 that people from across the kingdom came together to clean up coastlines to mark World Environment Day and raise awareness about protecting marine life and Bahrain’s beaches.
Coastal areas such as Jid Al Hajj which were plagued with plastic bottles, containers and other material, underwent a cleaning campaign organised by the Northern Region Municipality.
In February, more than 200 volunteers took part in clean-up efforts at Karranah Beach and removed more than 500kg of plastic which was sent for recycling.
In September 2022, more than five tonnes of rubbish was cleaned up at three beaches in Bahrain by more than 1,000 volunteers as part of World Clean-up Day on September 17.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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