Hairdressers, salons, massage parlours and spas across Bahrain could soon be required to use special disposable bins or bags for hazardous waste, including razor blades, single-use towels, threads and blood-contaminated items.
The proposal has been submitted by five MPs led by Strategic Thinking Bloc president Ahmed Al Salloom, who is also chairman of Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee, amid growing concerns that dangerous waste from the beauty and personal care industry is being disposed of as normal domestic rubbish.
Mr Al Salloom said the initiative was prompted by real-life incidents that exposed the health and safety risks posed by improper waste disposal.
“A kitten burst into a black rubbish bag and started chewing on blades thinking they were toys,” he said.
“Despite the strong hygiene procedures and inspection regimes carried out by the Health Ministry, there is a clear lack of monitoring when it comes to how this type of waste is ultimately disposed of.”
He stressed that sharp and contaminated items pose a serious risk not only to animals, but also to waste collectors, cleaners and the wider community, potentially spreading infections and diseases.
The proposal calls for salons and similar outlets to be required to keep dedicated hazardous waste bags or bins, which would be collected and disposed of by licensed specialised companies, rather than ending up in public waste containers.
Supporters say the move is not intended to burden businesses, but to close a dangerous gap in public health protection.
“This is about safeguarding the community,” Mr Al Salloom said. “Proper disposal protects workers, residents, waste handlers and even animals from unnecessary harm and serious illness.
“If adopted, the new requirements would make Bahrain among the more regionally proactive states in regulating beauty and wellness waste, reinforcing its public health framework while responding to a problem long ignored outside inspection hours.”
The Capital Trustees Board has unanimously approved the proposal, giving it a significant push forward.
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah said existing disposal rules were clear but rarely enforced on the ground.
“There should be hazardous bags for blades, blood, tissues and other one-off items in each and every outlet for daily use – not something that is brought out only when inspectors arrive,” he said.
Mr Tarradah explained that Bahrain already has a regulated system in place, whereby specialised companies transport hazardous waste and dispose of it according to strict standards.
“But it is cheaper and easier to deal with such remains as normal domestic waste, and this needs to stop,” he added.
The proposal aligns with the Health Ministry’s general health requirements for hotels, salons, massage parlours and cosmetic businesses, which already mandate strict hygiene, pest control, safe waste handling, employee medical screening and proper facility design.
While current regulations require self-closing waste containers, regular disposal, medical fitness certificates for workers and infection prevention measures, MPs and municipal officials believe hazardous waste from beauty-industry requires clearer classification and stricter enforcement.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))