Doha, Qatar – 1 March 2015: The local community, downstream industries, schools and universities in Qatar recently united on Wakra Beach for the success of the regional Waste Free Environment (WFE) cleanup campaign. As part of the initiative, over 1,500 students also participated in sustainability workshops and competitions aimed at promoting best practices related to proper waste disposal.
The WFE campaign is an environmental initiative launched by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) and is dedicated towards promoting the responsible disposal of waste as well as returning our local environments to their beautiful, pristine state. The annual campaign also aims to tackle some of the challenges associated with plastic litter.
For the third year in a row, the GPCA rolled out the initiative across the GCC, India and Europe by mobilizing downstream industries as well as the general public to take part in the cleanup campaign.
Discussing the aim of the campaign, Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General of the GPCA, said: “The GPCA is firmly committed to the principle that plastics should not be disposed irresponsibly; they should be reduced, reused, recycled and finally recovered for their energy value.” Dr. Al-Sadoun continued by saying: “The Waste Free Environment campaign is a testimony to our resolve here at GPCA to encourage the use of best practices in waste management and to raise public awareness about the important societal benefits of plastics.”
Dr. Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, Managing Director & CEO of Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), which is the pioneer in petrochemical production in the Middle East, one of the founding members of the GPCA, and the local liaison of the WFE campaign in Qatar, commented on the initiative by saying: “We believe that the Waste Free Environment campaign can act as a catalyst to propel waste disposal best practices across our community. Raising awareness about the consequences of irresponsible waste disposal is one of the first steps towards shaping a sustainable future.”
As such, on the 26th of February 2015, various activities were organized in 18 locations in a total of 13 cities to increase both corporate and public awareness about the amount of plastic and other waste thrown away each year in the Gulf and to inspire the community to reduce wastage and to recycle.
Commenting on the Waste Free Environment initiative, Dr. Saif Bin Ali Al Hajjari, Chairman of the Friends of the Environment Center, said, “This campaign coincides with the National Environment Day, held on February 26 of each year. With waste surrounding us, from household, electronic and medical for instance, waste management challenges get greater as we mix and have to handle all those kinds of waste. Therefore, we need to find the right methods for safe disposal and recycling to ensure the protection and health of our environment. “Dr. Al Hajjari praised the role of QAPCO and supporting companies saying, “We already participated in past years together with QAPCO in this positive initiatives which aim to preserve the environment. Thus the campaign this year marked a new progress and development level, and we are confident that such initiatives will help in supporting the development of the State of Qatar “.
The 2015 edition of the campaign was launched with renewed enthusiasm in Qatar. The response from the local community has been extremely positive. As evidence of the success of the campaign, the WFE witnessed a sharp rise in the number of volunteers, schools, universities, governmental agencies and supporting organizations that participated in the cleanup drive in Wakra Beach as well as in the related educational activities. All the participants expressed their strong commitment to preserve the environment and were mobilized towards one goal: shaping a sustainable future for our planet.
A total of 15 schools, two colleges and two universities took part in beach cleanup activities at Wakra Beach, highlighting the eagerness and fervor of educational institutes and the younger generations to participate in environmental activities.
The students were given four different types of color-coded rubbish bags and gloves, so that they could sort the collected waste according to their category. The cleanup was organized on a 3-kilometer stretch of the beach.
Within a few hours, the students cleared the shore of plastic waste, glass bottles and other waste materials. The students were very happy to have cleaned up the beach and to have removed a significant quantity of litter and waste from the shoreline. Through this activity, many realized the importance of throwing waste materials properly, instead of simply disposing of them in nature. Many volunteers from the community and from downstream-producing entities assisted the students in the beach cleanup activity.
In addition, an array of educational activities such as sustainability-oriented workshops and lectures focusing on waste management were offered on site to all the students. The key messages conveyed revolved around the fact that everyone has an active role to play in preserving and protecting the environment. Fun-filled competitions were also organized for the students, under the theme of “The 3 Rs” (reduce, reuse and recycle). The competitions were aimed at encouraging the students to adopt eco-friendly behaviors in their everyday life.
Overall, the campaign’s objective is to instill a sense of environmental responsibility among all the participants.
Al Wakra Beach was chosen because of its proximity to Mesaieed Industrial City, the home of most of the downstream producing industries in Qatar.
In addition, cleanup events were organized at selected locations and awareness activities likewise took place in schools and universities to highlight the issues associated with improper waste disposal.
Some of the main messages delivered were as follows: A large quantity of trash that we throw away everyday can actually be reused. Plastics are valuable materials and they should be recycled, instead of being thrown away. Recycling plastic products can conserve resources and reduce greenhouse emissions. Waste reduction is the most effective of the 3Rs; it means to reduce or lessen the amount of waste we generate by changing our habits.
Many institutions joined the WFE campaign in line with efforts to shape a sustainable future for the local community. The initiative was strongly supported by Qatar Petroleum, Al Wakra Municipality, the Ministry of Environment – Green Qatar & Environmental Public Awareness Division, the Ministry of Interior – South Police, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Friends of the Environment Centre, the Qatar Sport and Environment Committee, and Al Wakra Hospital. Kahramaa, Amwaj, ExxonMobil, Qatar University, Texas A&M University at Qatar, the College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, Education Above All and the Community College of Qatar likewise offered their upmost support. Petrofoam was the campaign’s recycling partner.
Apart from QAPCO, Mesaieed Industrial City’s other main downstream entities, such as Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO), Qatar Fuel Additives Company (QAFAC), Qatar Vinyl Company (QVC), Qatar Plastic Products Company (QPPC), Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company (QIMC), and Qatofin Company Limited as well as Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) also played a pivotal role in the cleanup drive.
The schools involved included Qatar Technical School, Ali Ibn Abi Talib Preparatory School for Boys, Al Wakra Independent High School for Boys, Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Independent Primary School for Boys, Omar Bin Al Khattab Education Complex, Al Shorouk and Al Wukair Independent School for Boys, Al Wukair Independent Primary School for Girls, Al Wakra Independent Primary School for Girls, Al Wakra Independent Preparatory School for Girls, Mesaieed Independent Primary and Preparatory School for Boys, Al Salam Independent Primary School for Girls, Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Independent School for Boys, as well as MES Indian School.
The safety and well-being of all the participants during the beach cleanup were ensured, thanks to Al Wakra Hospital and its medical team as well as the South Police Department, who secured the entire location.
On the sidelines of the WFE drive, Dr. Al Mulla said: “The cleanup campaign in Qatar was a real success because all the stakeholders united and were mobilized towards the same goal: raising awareness about the proper disposal of waste. Plastic is an essential material that provides sustainable solutions. However, plastic litter in any environment is unacceptable. It is our role as responsible corporate citizens and as individuals to take waste disposal seriously, because we are all part of the change. We can all make a difference in shaping a sustainable future.”
Mr. Khalifa Al Sowaidi, CEO of QAFCO, commented on the campaign by saying, “Environment awareness and education is an essential key towards sustainable development. QAFCO believes in environmental responsibility and has always championed environmental initiatives, awareness drives and workshops that benefit the society at large. We have continuously welcomed such initiatives from communities and our neighboring industries as well, to support and encourage them with achieving the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Being certified as a Responsible Care organisation only strengthens our resolve further to be an environmental conscious organisation at all times”.
He continued, “ Hence, it’s a privilege to be associated with the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, when they launch such mass events aimed at enhancing the environmental awareness of one and all, from different countries in the GCC in a single drive. We sincerely appreciate these efforts, and support such educational and community initiatives that aim at protecting our environment for the generations to come”.
Eng. Mohd. A. Rahman Hijji, General Manager of QPPC, stated, “The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. Every individual and institution must act responsibly as a trustee of the Earth. This kind of campaign will play a positive role in molding the behavior and morals of the current and new generation, thus leading to living on a healthy pollution-free environment, especially for the wonderful people of Qatar and the rest of world.The environment, after all, is where we all meet today, where we all have a mutual interest. It is the one thing that all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves but also a representation on how we want the future of our lovely country,Qatar, to become.”
Since the launch of the GCC campaign in 2013, the WFE has grown in size, participation and collection. The 2014 edition saw a record collection of 11 tons of waste from 5,512 participants from GPCA member companies, schools and local communities in nine GCC cities. Volunteers included students from 71 schools and universities, and included clean- up teams in beaches and waters as part of the day- long campaign.
