HYPERMARKETS, supermarkets and central markets could be obliged to install machines to turn leftover and expired vegetables, fruit, fish and food into compost.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry has approved the concept behind a proposal by the Southern Municipal Council to install machines to turn organic remains into much-needed fertilisers.
However, the ministry is currently studying technical, financial, administrative and legal aspects of the proposal.
It is unclear if the machines will be provided by the government, the private sector or Bahrain’s two cleaning companies, said the ministry.
Also, a list of the machines and their standards haven’t been agreed upon, it added.
Online studies suggest that fruit and vegetables such as apple cores, rinds of melons, papayas and pineapples, as well as peels of oranges and bananas, amongst others, are rich in nitrogen.
Once compressed they could be used as compost by Bahraini farmers saving on the expensive imported fertilisers which have seen prices rocket globally since the Russian conflict with Ukraine.
Fish remains could also be turned into fertiliser.
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, who is behind the proposal, believes the move could tackle one of the main issues of valuable products ending up in landfills.
He pointed out that most of Bahrain’s major hypermarkets and supermarkets have expressed their intention to invest in the machines even before being obliged to do so.
“It seems that the issue is with government-run central markets and municipalities not willing to cough up from their coffers,” he said.
“Any expenditure will be justified as currently several dumpsters containing small fish caught by inconsiderate fishermen or rotten fruit and vegetables discarded by vendors are left in the open across Bahrain.
“These dumpsters are often found teeming with flies and other insects which are a health hazard.”
Mr Abdullatif believes the green initiative could also solve the issue of ‘expat dumpster diving’.
“Videos of expats dumpster diving have gone viral showing them selling rotten and damaged fruit and vegetables after washing them under toilet taps,” he said.
Southern Municipality director-general Isa Al Buainain said the government has backed the initiative in principle, adding that the proposal needed intensive study by experts from the Estidama Waste Management Centre.
“It seems like a good idea but we are not experts. It requires study by the waste management centre concerned under the ministry, supported by scientific evidence besides a view of other aspects that we may not have any knowledgeable of,” he added.
Meanwhile, Northern Municipal Council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim said the issue didn’t need complications.
“Options could be tested through non-compulsory introduction by the private sector and I don’t see any justifiable reason behind the delay,” she added. “Those machines don’t cost a lot and are available.
“Let Bahrain’s two cleaning companies shoulder the costs of these compost machines since it would save them time to collect, transport and dump the waste in the landfill.”
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak will make a decision on the proposal after receiving expert opinions and costings.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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