The recent Waste Free Environment (WFE) cleanup campaign launched by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) saw participation from the local community, downstream industries, schools and universities.

As part of the initiative, over 1,500 students also participated in sustainability workshops and competitions aimed at promoting best practices related to proper waste disposal.

The WFE campaign is an environmental initiative launched by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) and is dedicated towards promoting the responsible disposal of waste as well as returning our local environments to their beautiful, pristine state. The annual campaign also aims to tackle some of the challenges associated with plastic litter.

For the third year in a row, the GPCA rolled out the initiative across the GCC, India and Europe by mobilizing downstream industries as well as the general public to take part in the cleanup campaign.

Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, secretary general of the GPCA, said: “The GPCA is firmly committed to the principle that plastics should not be disposed irresponsibly; they should be reduced, reused, recycled and finally recovered for their energy value.”

Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, vice chairman & CEO of Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco), of the founding members of the GPCA, said: “We believe that the Waste Free Environment campaign can act as a catalyst to propel waste disposal best practices across our community. Raising awareness about the consequences of irresponsible waste disposal is one of the first steps towards shaping a sustainable future.”

On February 26, various activities were organized in 18 locations in a total of 13 cities to increase both corporate and public awareness about the amount of plastic and other waste thrown away each year in the Gulf and to inspire the community to reduce wastage and to recycle.

Dr Saif Bin Ali Al Hajjari, chairman of the Friends of the Environment Center, said, "This campaign coincides with the National Environment Day, held on February 26 of each year.”

“With waste surrounding us, from household, electronic and medical for instance, waste management challenges get greater as we mix and have to handle all those kinds of waste. Therefore, we need to find the right methods for safe disposal and recycling to ensure the protection and health of our environment. "

The 2015 edition of the campaign was launched with renewed enthusiasm in Qatar. The response from the local community has been extremely positive. As evidence of the success of the campaign, the WFE witnessed a sharp rise in the number of volunteers, schools, universities, governmental agencies and supporting organizations that participated in the cleanup drive in Wakra Beach as well as in the related educational activities.

All the participants expressed their strong commitment to preserve the environment and were mobilized towards one goal: shaping a sustainable future for our planet.

A total of 15 schools, two colleges and two universities took part in beach cleanup activities at Wakra Beach, highlighting the eagerness and fervour of educational institutes and the younger generations to participate in environmental activities. – TradeArabia News Service