Burning waste:
A phenomenon in Muscat Governorate
• Waste burning is a phenomenon that threatens environmental balance and affects public health
• Continuous inspection and awareness campaigns to follow up the owners of farms and buildings and stop the phenomenon
• Local Order No. 1/2006 on the Prevention of Public Health under Article No. 11: burning of waste in public places is prohibited
Bushra Al-Busaidiya
As the weather cools down these months, many families like to spend some time outdoor. However, people suddenly become disturbed of the smell of burning agricultural and construction waste, which is a dangerous type of waste that affects public health and cause environmental pollution.
Smoke spread in residential neighbourhoods amid the anger of residents, posing a more severe danger if a fire is lit in farms near buildings and residential neighbourhoods. Fadel al Ameri who is head of the Department of Environmental Health at the General Directorate of Muscat Municipality in Bousher said that burning of waste is one of the phenomena that have recently spread, especially agricultural waste, which has caused severe impacts on individuals and the environment around. The General Directorate of Health Affairs and all its service directorates, seeks to develop solutions to address the issue of burning solid waste, by raising awareness among members of the community about the danger of burning such waste, and instructing them on the appropriate ways to dispose of it, in addition to intensifying control over all sites.
The Royal Decree No. 114/2001 on the protection of the environment and the control of pollution further strengthens the adoption of environment protection legislation, which ensures that Oman`s environment remains pollution-free. Article No. (14), which stipulates: construction contractors are obliged to dispose construction and demolition waste in sites designated for such purpose.