A decade after a proposal to introduce coloured garbage bags to help households separate waste was approved, Bahrain is still sending most of its rubbish to landfill in the same black plastic sacks.
Now, the Southern Municipal Council says the delay is costing the country ‘millions of dinars in lost recycling value’ – and wants the plan revived.
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif says Bahrain is missing a simple, practical opportunity to turn trash into a resource.
“We are literally throwing money away every day,” he said. “Paper, plastic, metal and organic waste are all mixed together in black bags, making recycling far more difficult and expensive than it needs to be.”
The idea is straightforward: distribute colour-coded bags to homes and buildings so residents can sort waste at source – for example, one colour for plastics, another for paper and another for organic waste.
Mr Abdullatif
Across the GCC, variations of the system are already in place, supported by public awareness campaigns and clear colour guidance for residents. But in Bahrain, the familiar black bag remains the default, Mr Abdullatif said.
According to him, the issue is no longer just an environmental concern, but also has an economic impact.
“Recyclable materials have value. When everything is mixed together, that value is lost. Instead of creating an industry around waste recovery, we are paying to bury it.”
He added that landfill space is also under pressure, making the case for recycling even more urgent.
“This is not a luxury project. It is a necessity for a small island nation with limited land and growing consumption,” he said.
He believes the plan does not require complex technology – all it needs is co-ordination and awareness.
“We don’t need futuristic solutions,” said Mr Abdullatif. “We need practical steps that start from the home.”
Mr Tarradah
The concept was first suggested by Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah as a low-cost behavioural shift that could dramatically improve recycling rates without major infrastructure changes.
“Segregation at source is the foundation of any successful recycling system,” said Mr Tarradah.
“If waste arrives already separated, the entire process becomes easier, cheaper and more efficient.”
Mr Tarradah believes the public would quickly adopt the system if it is introduced properly.
“People want to do the right thing, but they need simple tools and clear instructions. A coloured bag system is easy to understand and easy to follow.”
Both municipal chiefs argue that reviving the proposal could also open doors for private sector participation in recycling, waste collection innovation and green job creation.
“Waste should be seen as a resource stream, not a disposal problem,” Mr Tarradah added.
For now, the black bags continue to be distributed at collection points across the kingdom. But councillors hope that by revisiting an old idea, Bahrain can take a modern step towards sustainability – and stop sending valuable materials straight to the dump.
Coloured bins are currently found in schools, malls and across Bahrain to segregate waste.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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