Vote for song
Merge 104.8 | 07 July 2020
Before you throw that empty can or used mask on the ground or alongside the dumpster, ask yourself how much time and effort it actually takes to toss your trash in the bin. Chances are…it’s about two seconds.
A new campaign launched by Oman’s Environmental Services Holding Company, Be’ah, is aiming to change mindsets towards littering in the Sultanate by promoting just that.
‘The Difference is Two Seconds’ initiative strives to instill the mentality among the public that keeping Oman’s streets, beaches, and environment clean and safe for all is a matter of taking two seconds of your time to make a better choice by properly disposing of garbage and waste in designated containers provided by Be’ah.
Speaking in an interview with Oman TV, Eng. Zakariya bin Khamis Al Balushi, Be’ah’s Regional Operations Manager for Muscat Governorate, said that 2,400-litre bins have been placed by the authority for public use all over the capital.
“Unfortunately, we have found some practices by the citizens that are not dealing with these bins in a proper way,” stated Al Balushi. “So this has become a barrier, as our efficiency has become affected and our day-to-day operations have increased due to that.”
Al Balushi stated that when people throw trash alongside the bin or on the ground in the surrounding area, it turns a job of emptying a full bin — which usually takes around 45 seconds using fully-outfitted dump-trucks — into a task that can take over five minutes as Be’ah workers must also clear away the trash that has been littered on the ground.
Not only does littering create a significant burden on waste management resources, but it also creates an ample environment for the proliferation of insects and, also, for diseases to spread, says Oman TV.
“What we request from the citizens,” says Al Balushi, “is to please take two seconds only to open the lid and put your waste inside the bin. By following this practice, you will be preventing a lot of health issues related to the waste management.”
For large-scale objects, Be’ah has a toll-free number (1881) that customers can call to inform them of large pieces of trash or objects, so that Be’ah can arrange for pickup and transfer to designated dumping areas.
(Also read: New stamp series from Oman Post highlights the Sultanate’s musical tradition.)
