The plans and programs related to daily cleaning operations, implemented by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, are in line with the ongoing urban development, including the expansion into new residential and industrial areas. This necessitates the provision of additional cleaning services, particularly in densely populated areas, ensuring the smooth operation of daily life in accordance with the highest public safety standards, while also supporting efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.
In this regard, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, represented by the four municipalities (Capital Muharraq, Northern, and Southern), has successfully integrated the new areas into its comprehensive waste management strategies. These areas are included in the ministry’s daily plans and programs, which cover the entire urban area of the Kingdom of Bahrain, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of cleaning services in all regions, including the newly developed ones.
The daily cleaning operations in these new projects reflect a consistent and ongoing approach, carried out by the Ministry in collaboration with sanitation companies. These services are provided according to a well-structured operational program, ensuring that the cleaning work adheres to internationally recognized environmental standards.
This continuous sanitation movement is carried out by over 3,000 workers, including cleaners, drivers, inspectors, and supervisors, who work daily and around the clock in the governorates of Muharraq, Capital, Northern, and Southern. They are supported by a fleet of 260 vehicles, including mechanical street sweepers, small and large waste compaction trucks, waste transport trucks, towing vehicles, specialized waste and agricultural waste cranes, scrap vehicle removal vehicles, water suction machines, and street and parking lot washing machines.
To ensure the highest performance indicators, a new system has been implemented to monitor violations and send requests to the responsible companies to take the necessary actions. In this regard, performance monitoring programs are used to assess the quality and quantity of work, track complaints and suggestions, and monitor the performance of all vehicles and machinery using GPS systems, measuring the amount of work, working hours, and continuously tracking performance and output.
On another note, the Municipalities have not overlooked the community role in maintaining and improving cleanliness. This is achieved through the principle of community partnership, raising awareness among citizens and residents across all areas by engaging with them through social media platforms, disseminating educational materials, and organizing ongoing cleanliness and removal campaigns. The goal is to maintain public cleanliness, ensure its sustainability, and meet the aspirations of both citizens and residents, in line with achieving the desired objectives.
In this regard, the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture continues to organize awareness campaigns by leveraging all events and occasions to educate citizens and residents about the Public Cleanliness Law and sanitation practices, whether related to general behavior or regulations. These efforts are carried out through systematic and scheduled campaigns. One such campaign, for example, was the recently launched "Sa'waid" campaign, which aims to maintain public cleanliness and activate community partnership in this context.
The Municipalities also launched several services related to public cleanliness, including the "Call for Your Furniture" initiative, which aims to dispose of used furniture before it is discarded near containers. This service is provided free of charge to specific groups of citizens, such as the elderly, individuals with special needs, divorced women, widows, and others. A dedicated hotline number, 80070000, has been established to allow beneficiaries to access this service.
On another front, the Public Cleanliness Law No. 10 of 2019 marked a significant milestone in maintaining public cleanliness in Bahrain. The law outlines the methods for handling, transporting, and disposing of waste, and its executive regulations clarify many of its provisions and work procedures. The regulations also specify how special types of waste should be stored in the originating facilities, whether they are medical or industrial, and the fines imposed for violations.
The Public Cleanliness Law takes into account national interests, contributing to environmental preservation, as it grants municipalities the authority to control and remove violations, a step that had not been possible before. The Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture has launched a large media campaign, which is still ongoing, to inform the public about the law, its importance, and the collective responsibility in implementing it.