PLANS to introduce colour-coded rubbish bags across households and businesses have been put off with officials stressing the need for public awareness before rolling out the key waste management project.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry had intended to launch the scheme in July this year, however, it has pushed back the move owing to ‘implementation challenges’.
The GDN has learnt that the challenges include lack of public awareness to ensure compliance with the rule, and the high cost of transition, bag manufacturing and disposal.
“The conventional use of black rubbish bags for household waste collection is a widespread practice, however, as environmental concerns grow and waste management systems evolve, calls have been made to introduce colour-coded bags for homes and businesses,” Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah told the GDN.
“It can streamline waste segregation, improve recycling rates and reduce contamination in the landfill,” he added.
Mr Tarradah said the project, however, will have to wait as more discussions were vital to streamline the process and finalise the budget.
“The problem is that vending machines are designed to only distribute black bags each month,” he pointed out.
“We also need to assess the price of the coloured bundle, and if people will shoulder the cost or the government,” he added.
“We can oblige households to segregate waste by enforcing rules, but without a clear direction, the system could lead to confusion and non-compliance.
“This is why the system has been delayed until the mechanisms are streamlined.”
The board chairman assured that the project would not be suspended and that ‘more thought was being put in’ to ensure its success.
He also suggested that a gradual rollout of colour-coded waste systems through pilot programmes would help identify potential challenges and allow municipalities to fine-tune their approach before full-scale implementation.
“Black garbage bags, widely preferred for their simplicity, presents several challenges in waste management,” he explained.
“The primary issue is that black bags make it difficult to distinguish between different types of waste. This leads to improper disposal of recyclable materials, organic waste and hazardous items, which can result in contamination of the recycling stream or contribute to excessive landfill use.
“By using bags of different colours – such as blue for recyclables, green for organic waste, and red for hazardous materials – households can easily sort and dispose of their garbage, making it easier for waste management services to process and recycle materials appropriately. This system also minimises contamination in waste streams.”
Mr Tarradah said recycling facilities can quickly identify the bags that contain reusable materials, thus reducing the chances of them being sent to landfills.
‘This process not only improves recycling rates but also lowers the environmental footprint of waste disposal,” he said.
“Colour-coded bags act as a constant visual reminder for households to be mindful of their waste disposal habits.”
He further explained that pre-sorting waste at the household level would reduce labour and resources required at waste processing facilities.
“This not only lowers operational costs for municipalities but also speeds up the recycling process, leading to greater overall efficiency,” he added.
Mr Tarradah said collaboration with packaging manufacturers would help ensure colour-coded bags are affordable and sustainable.
“Local businesses can be incentivised to promote and distribute coloured bags to residents,” he noted.
“While the transition may come with initial challenges, the long-term benefits for waste management systems and the environment make it a change worth pursuing.
“Governments, municipalities and citizens have a role to play in making the project a success.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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