Waste management draft law prepared, minister tells Majlis

The Majlis Al Shura hosted Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs who delivered the Ministry’s statement

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has prepared a draft law on integrated waste management and is working on a regulation on the use of plastic bags, the Majlis Al Shura was told on Sunday.

During its 21st session of the third annual sitting (2017/2018) for the 8th term (2015/2018) under the chair of Khalid bin Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura, hosted Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs who delivered the Ministry’s statement.

The statement of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs included six main themes that covered the development of the environment and climate sector, training and rehabilitation of national cadres, coordination with the agencies involved in environmental work, the environmental licences, the international conventions on environment and the relation of the Ministry with civil society organisations.

In a bid to enhance the legislative work system at the Ministry, the Minster of Environment and Climate Affairs said that the Ministry has prepared a draft law for the ‘integrated waste management.’

It is also working on completing the regulation for the use of plastic bags to limit their hazards on environment and human health, as well as the sustainability of the ecological system and biodiversity. It is also updating the regulations for draining in the marine environment, the emissions from fixed sources and the regulations for the crushers.

He also highlighted the modern technologies and the infrastructure made as part of its efforts to develop environmental work. He pointed out that the factories that have a big impact on environment through the CEMS system; a system that allows the ministry to continuously monitor the performance of these factories.

Moreover, factories were mandated to fix CCTVs to monitor the emissions instantly.

The statement also shed light on the role of the ministry in giving environmental licenses. The Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs pointed out that the environmental assessment and licence centre issues the environmental permits for the projects that require preparing environmental assessment study no later than 30 working days.