* Four-phase programme to continue until 2022
* First phase covers schools, health centres, hospitals, banks and other financial institutions
* 25 specialised vehicles allocated


The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) on Monday launched the first phase of an integrated waste sorting and recycling programme in Qatar upon the directives of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani.

The programme will be implemented in four phases until 2022.

HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie was briefed on the progress of the programme, its objectives, stages and implementation mechanism during a visit to a site housing the vehicles and containers to be used for sorting waste, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

MME's Assistant Undersecretary for General Services Affairs Safar Mubarak al-Shafi stressed that the implementation of the programme of sorting and recycling waste comes within the framework of the keen attention paid by the ministry to develop its services in order to preserve the environment and achieve sustainable development, and in implementation of its sustainable strategic plan.

He said the programme aims to reduce the amount of waste and maintain the integrity of the environment, benefit economically from recycling waste, achieve sustainable development, support the private sector and contribute to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Al-Shafi explained that the programme includes four stages from 2019 to 2022.

The first phase, which started on Monday, includes 581 schools, where 1,624 new containers have been distributed in co-operation and co-ordination with specialists at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.


Some of the vehicles to be used for the initiative

It will also cover health centres, hospitals, banks and other financial institutions.

The second phase, which will start next year, will cover government agencies, commercial complexes, malls, universities, Karwa bus stops, hotels and parks, according to the QNA report.

The third phase will begin in 2021 and target the Corniche area and the city of Doha, while an electronic service will also be launched to collect recyclable materials from all houses in the country, he added.

The fourth phase will start in 2022.

Al-Shafi affirmed the ministry's commitment to the environment, preservation and reduction of environmental damage, stressing that the programme of sorting and recycling waste contributes to the conservation of natural resources and also support private sector companies.

He added that the success of the programme was directly linked to public co-operation and awareness programmes would be conducted for this purpose.

According to a statement by the MME, al-Shafi praised the important role played by officials at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and school administrations to make such programmes a success.

The launch of the first phase was preceded by preparatory meetings a few months ago, during which all school principals were instructed to participate in the programme by supervising the distribution of recycling containers in school corridors and conducting competitions for students, in addition to organising workshops, seminars and awareness programmes to increase students' awareness about the issue of recycling, the statement noted.

A total of 25 specialised vehicles have allocated to collect recyclable materials as part of the initiative.



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