Bahrain’s municipal bodies are reigniting efforts to implement a nationwide colour-coded waste bag system across households and businesses, a long-debated plan aimed at revolutionising the kingdom’s waste management strategy.
The initiative, first discussed in July last year, was shelved due to logistical concerns and lack of public awareness.
However, it is now back on the table, with a reinvigorated push led by Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, who is working with his counterparts in Muharraq and the Northern Governorate, alongside the Capital Trustees Board, to roll out the project.
“This isn’t just about changing the colour of rubbish bags, it’s about transforming how our society views and handles waste,” Mr Abdullatif told the GDN.
“We are not giving up on this project because it is vital for our environment, our landfills and our future generations.
“We must speak to schools, residential communities and businesses. This isn’t just a government initiative, citizens must be part of the solution.”
The proposed colour-coded waste bags are designed to encourage households and commercial establishments to sort waste at the point of origin. Under the plan, blue bags would be used for recyclables such as plastic and paper, green for organic waste and red for hazardous materials.
“Environmental responsibility is no longer optional,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“With the right planning, partnerships and public engagement, this initiative can redefine how Bahrain manages its waste – not just for now, but for generations to come.”
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry had originally aimed to launch the system earlier, but the project was suspended. Officials cite several hurdles, including the lack of public awareness, high implementation costs and outdated infrastructure.
“The vending machines currently used to distribute municipal bags are configured only for black bags,” Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah noted.
“There’s also a need to study the pricing of coloured bag bundles – will residents bear the cost, or will the government subsidise it? These are not minor details, they are central to the system’s success.”
Mr Tarradah pointed out that while challenges remain, the new system could offer long-term benefits, both environmentally and economically.
“It will reduce the need for manual sorting at processing plants, cutting operational costs and speeding up recycling,” he explained. “This would ultimately save taxpayers money and extend the life of our waste infrastructure.”
He further believes that segregating waste at home would serve as a visual reminder for people to be mindful of their consumption and disposal habits.
“It’s about building a culture of responsibility. The colours on the bags will be a constant prompt: where does this item go? Is this recyclable? Is it dangerous?”
Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of clarity and consensus before implementation.
“We cannot just introduce a new system and expect instant compliance,” he told the GDN.
“There must be national-level co-ordination, widespread education campaigns and pilot programmes to test the model in selected neighbourhoods. Enforcement without education could cause more harm than good.
“We need a unified message and a clear set of guidelines. Once the system is clarified and the infrastructure is in place, we can consider implementing regulations or even penalties for non-compliance – but not before the public fully understands what is expected of them.”
The chairmen have agreed that a phased rollout, beginning with pilot projects, could provide valuable feedback.
“We have already identified a few candidate areas for pilot schemes,” said Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar.
“These are neighbourhoods with engaged communities and supportive local businesses. If these trials are successful, we can implement them across the kingdom.”
He also said the council would work with local packaging manufacturers to source affordable and sustainable colour-coded bags.
“We want this to be a partnership with the private sector, not just a top-down government project,” Mr Al Naar added.
“Local vendors and packaging companies can help produce and distribute bags while raising awareness. We are thinking long-term.
“This is a big change, and big changes take time. But it’s a necessary one if we are serious about sustainability.”
All four officials stressed the need for awareness campaigns, training sessions and support systems, without which, they said, the compliance rates would be poor.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))