People have been urged to shop, cook and eat smarter to avoid food wastage during Ramadan.
Top municipal officials have also called on citizens and residents to cut down on lavish iftars and suhoors, as awareness campaigns have been launched in co-ordination with supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses to educate the public in a bid to tackle the topic.
Around 35 per cent of the food purchased is thrown away during the holy month, according to a municipal council chairman.
“This Ramadan, we are encouraging residents and citizens to reflect on their shopping and consumption habits,” said Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif.
“We understand that 15 to 25pc of food purchased by families finds its way to the rubbish bin regularly. This increases to around 35pc in the country during Ramadan and other festivals – which is much higher than the 33pc wastage rate in Europe,” he added.
Mr Abdullatif called on people to cook less and to think twice before piling up plates during feasts.
Having plentiful food for guests, and anyone who might ask for it, is part of the generosity expected of Muslims during Ramadan, but most of it is dumped later, he said, calling on people to be more aware of their limits and to act responsibly.
“Statistics show that around 600 tonnes of organic food waste are being generated every day in Bahrain, this is alarming and needs to stop,” he said. “We have already launched campaigns to educate people about the importance of reducing food waste, especially during this season.”
Mr Abdullatif thanked societies and groups that collect unwanted food and distribute it to those in need, supporting such donations and initiatives to help the underprivileged.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah also called on people to feast responsibly. “It shouldn’t be a daily banquet during Ramadan, with 50pc of food thrown away,” he said. “Littering during the holy month is much higher than on normal days too.
“We still need comparative numbers for the five Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr weeks to determine a pattern, but we believe, wastage increases from mid-Ramadan with Gargaoun, followed by religious occasions and peaks during the last 10 days before the joyful Eid.
“I believe that people are more sensible now when it comes to food wastage, but it remains too high.
“People are becoming more aware and wiser in their purchasing and consumption habits, which will definitely assist the country in reducing food waste. I am optimistic that we are on the right track.”
The United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index had revealed earlier that people in Bahrain threw away 146,000 tonnes of food in 2020, costing the country BD94.9 million.
Most food waste in Bahrain is transported to the Hafeera landfill in Askar where it is compacted and covered with sand to avoid vermin and insect infestations.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak had earlier indicated that Bahrain may set up a green-waste recycling plant by 2040, while getting 52pc of all general waste recycled.
Cleaning is handled by Urbaser Bahrain in the Northern and Southern Governorates and Gulf City Cleaning Company in the Capital and Muharraq Governorates.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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