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More than 13,200 single-use plastic water bottles have been collected by a Bahrain-based community group as part of a campaign that aims to educate people about the importance of reducing plastic waste and cleaning up the environment.
Budaiya Hub, part of the Global Shapers Community (GSC), revealed the figures as they posted a video on Instagram, highlighting their ‘Plastic Free July’ initiative and encouraging the local community to do their part.
It follows a call made by GSC to hubs around the world to contribute a short film showing the impact they have made in their local communities in the fight against plastic pollution.
“When we saw a statistic by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that said plastic leakage into the environment is expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2040, we wanted to do our part to help,” Budaiya Hub environmental consultant and shaper Rahma Aleskafi told the GDN.
“So we created the Plastic Free July campaign in 2023, and since then, we have collected more than 13,200 single-use bottles, weighing a total of 450kg, during the month.
“With this initiative, we also aim to bring people from all walks of life together to help clean up our community because it isn’t just about one person taking charge, but the entire country.”
The collected bottles were taken to recycling bins managed by Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of Disabled in several areas including Saar, Budaiya, A’ali Walkway, Adliya, Hidd, Tubli and Isa Town.
They are then sold to recycling companies across the country, with the money raised used to purchase wheelchairs, specifically designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities who often cannot afford specialist equipment due to the high cost.
Ms Aleskafi
“The Plastic Free July initiative did not just impact the environment, but it worked to help those in need and their families,” Ms Aleskafi said.
“The recent video is also meant to inspire others to organise initiatives in their community. Anyone can take part and help clean up our country; it does not require much effort.”
Looking to the future, Budaiya Hub aims to start producing recyclable products and reinvest the proceeds in local causes.
“We are also brainstorming ideas and holding workshops on how to create Bahrain’s first recycling lab, which would be really amazing,” she said.
The GDN earlier reported that last year, a staggering 1.4 million tonnes of domestic and commercial waste was dumped at the Askar landfill. This was revealed during a key forum on sustainability in Bahrain in March.
Domestic waste which includes food waste, paper, glass, plastics and metals constituted around 501,548 tonnes, which is 41 per cent of the total rubbish at the landfill.
Every year, 400m tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide, according to the United Nations. Half of this is designed to be used only once, and only 10pc is recycled. Between 19m and 23m tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, and without urgent action, this figure is expected to rise by 50pc by 2040.
Budaiya Hub, under the GSC, is a World Economic Forum initiative, dedicated to empowering young people who aspire to make a positive transformation in their communities.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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