Municipal waste, Industrial waste and Medical waste
We wonder why some days we have trouble breathing, some days we wake up with headaches, and we wonder about that thin line of bilious yellow haze that moves in off the sea and smells like sulpher and makes us choke and our eyes water.
From today’s Arab Times; you can read the entire interview by clicking here
Toxic, hazardous gases being emitted into the air; Waste dumping tied to health problems
Toxic and hazardous gases are being emitted into the air because of the uncontrolled and illegal dumping of waste. The emitted toxic gases are causing a lot of health problems along with the polluted dust coming from outside of Kuwait. These health problems include asthma, vomiting, coughing, allergies among other diseases, states Mohammad Al Sarawi, an environment expert.
Mohammad Al-Sarawi was speaking to the Arab Times on the current environmental problems that are affecting Kuwait, the limitations faced by Kuwait Environmental Authority, the implications of the second Gulf Conference on Environment & Sustainability β including the current eco-friendly projects being adopted.
Q: As an environmentalist what would you say are the major environmental problems that Kuwait suffers from today?
A: There are three types of pollutants that are causing environmental problems in Kuwait. They are municipal waste, industrial waste and medical waste.
Firstly considering the municipal waste, we have at least 3000 tons of municipal waste dumped into the desert directly without any recycling or treatment. The garbage is collected from the residential areas in Kuwait. Municipal waste is mainly dumped in illegal landfills. Illegal from an international and conventional point of view. The illegal landfills where the waste is dumped are not monitored and donβt come under any form of control. These places have to be monitored well to limit the pollution that such waste is pumping into the air and affecting the surrounding areas.
From the 1940s until today there has not been recycling of municipal waste. Kuwait is failing to meet the international standards when it comes to the recycling of municipal waste and other kinds of waste. The waste is dumped in more than one landfill. We get some of our natural resources from the desert and using them as dumping grounds can affect procurement of important resources. We produce so much waste that we are running short of places to dispose them of.
There are 16 old landfills in Kuwait and now all of them are closed because of saturation. We have only 3 active landfills left, one in Jahra, one in Mina Abdullah, and one in Sulaibiya. Dumping of waste continues in the remaining landfills. Environmental problems come mainly from closed landfills which surround urban areas. These closed landfills emit a very strong stench. They also emanate methane gas (CH4), which mixes in the atmosphere and is very dangerous. There is a high chance that this toxic gas can spread into urban areas and people could inhale it. This gas diffuses very easily and rapidly in the air and has a very foul smell.
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Welcome to Kuwait.
Had a headache that lasts for days?
Feel tired all the time?
Can’t breathe?
Ever had a rash from swimming in the bay?
Eye irritation?
I read it yesterday and was shocked at the honesty of the interviewee – but he was a former EPA head here – why didnt he do anything? Why doesnt he pressure the govt?
Its high time Kuwait started thinking about proper waste disposal, segregation of garbage and recycling. Back home we have a compost pit and also separate our garbage for collection by the municipality. Too bad we don’t have that luxury here π¦
Desert Girl – Yep. Yep. Yep. No! Yep!
Amer – the article is shocking, and the effect is CUMULATIVE! Aarrgh!
Mathai – I think there are people thinking up the solutions here in Kuwait, and even some who are working actively on them, but things seem to be a little jammed up in public works. . .
I knew it, I always said it.
Hope you’re well.
Wow thats really scary! I was always wondering about things like that. Thanks for posting it.
You should read The Appeal by John Grisham .. Deals with illegal dumping of wastes. Very VERY good read!
Thanks for the good recommendation, Chirp. I will do so – I remember you recommended two other books where were great and challenging – one on the Lost Boys of the Sudan and one by Judy Picoult. You have a great mind and I applaud you for using it.
Cant the citizens of Umm AlHaimam – suffering from environmental ills, toxic and otherwise – sue the government? I’m surprised they havent been represented yet.
Thank you so much! I have two other Jodi Picoult recommendation, “My Sisters Keeper” and “Plain Truth”.
Amer – I would love to see some of the Kuwait statistics on health problems – Kuwaiti and expat. I suspect there is a higher incidence of certain kinds of cancer and respiratory problems. One additional problem – the accuracy and reliability of the statistics and record keeping. . . π¦
You are welcome, sweet Chirp! I already read “My Sister’s Keeper” – it was EXCELLENT. Very moving. I will have to get “Plain Truth.”
We are manufacturing medical waste sterilizers and wish to establish partnership with the firms in the filed as well as with those willing to step in medical waste treatment and management field.