Mountains of discarded fruit and vegetables from Bahrain’s markets, importers and hypermarkets could one day be transformed from a smelly waste problem into a source of renewable energy and organic fertiliser.
The idea is being put on the table by the Capital Trustees Board, which is seeking a feasibility study by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry into converting unwanted and rotten produce into methane-rich biogas.
The proposal, spearheaded by board chairman Saleh Tarradah and vice-chairwoman Dr Khulood Al Qattan, could turn everything from unsold vegetables to overripe fruit into a useful resource instead of sending it to landfill.
Mr Tarradah said the proposal was driven by the need to look at waste not simply as something to be removed, but as a potential resource that could generate economic and environmental benefits.
“We want to explore whether the large quantities of fruit and vegetable waste generated every day can be put to productive use instead of simply being discarded,” he said.
“The feasibility study is important because it will tell us what quantities are available, what technology would be suitable for Bahrain, the potential costs and, most importantly, whether the project can generate useful energy and other valuable by-products.”
Under the concept, discarded produce would first be collected and sorted to remove plastics, stickers, metal, glass and other contaminants before being chopped or crushed into a pulp.
The material could then be fed into sealed anaerobic digesters, where microorganisms break down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment.
The process produces biogas containing mainly methane and carbon dioxide. After purification to remove impurities, the methane-rich gas could potentially be used for cooking, heating or electricity generation.
The process would also leave behind digestate rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which could potentially be used as an organic fertiliser.
The technology is already being used and studied internationally, with anaerobic digestion allowing organic waste to be processed under controlled conditions.
Fruit and vegetable waste can be particularly suitable because its high moisture content and readily biodegradable sugars and starches can support microbial activity. In larger facilities, it can also be co-digested with other organic material to achieve the right nutrient balance and maximise gas production.
A key consideration for Bahrain, however, would be the collection and separation system.
Produce would need to be kept largely free of plastic packaging and other contaminants before entering the digestion process. The waste would also need to be transported efficiently from central markets, importers, supermarkets and hypermarkets to a processing facility.
Mr Tarradah said the proposal should be approached as both an environmental initiative and a potential economic opportunity.
“We are not talking about simply building another waste facility. We are talking about examining whether we can create a system in which waste becomes a resource – producing energy, reducing landfill volumes and potentially creating organic fertiliser,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Al Qattan said the proposal could help Bahrain move towards a more circular approach to waste management.
“What is currently considered waste could potentially become an energy source and a useful agricultural product,” she said.
“Fruit and vegetable waste is particularly interesting because of its high moisture and organic content. Instead of paying to transport and dispose of it, we should examine whether we can recover its energy value and return nutrients to the soil.”
Dr Al Qattan added that the study could also examine the potential scale of the project and identify the most suitable locations and technologies.
“The first step is to understand the opportunity properly. We need accurate figures on the amount of organic waste being generated, the investment required, the expected energy output and the possible uses of the by-products,” she said.
“If found viable, such a scheme could give Bahrain’s food markets an unexpected role in the country’s sustainability drive – with yesterday’s rotten vegetables potentially helping generate some of tomorrow’s energy.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))