(MENAFN- Gulf Times) More recycling companies are being established in Qatar, including manufacturers of eco-friendly products, an official of the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) has said.
According to QGBC director Meshal al-Shamari, Qatar not only has paper recycling enterprises but also companies that recycle all types of batteries, rubber, glass, metal, and even cooking oil. For eco-friendly products, al-Shamari said Qatar now has a local manufacturer of LED lights.
'These recycling companies, whether large or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in the development of the economy, al-Shamari told Gulf Times yesterday on the sidelines of the opening of the five-day ‘Covertech 2017' at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Shortly after the economic blockade imposed on Qatar four months ago, al-Shamari said local companies received increased support from the government such as incentives offered by special economic zones developer Manateq and the single window initiative of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani.
'Our role as QGBC is to promote locally-made products in the market, and they can be a very good substitute to goods that we used to import…since they are ‘Made in Qatar' products, these materials should be cost efficient too, he said.
Al-Shamari noted that there is also a growing market for recyclable waste or scrap material from demolished structures, which is a topic that will be discussed in the second instalment of QGBC's ‘Qatar Sustainability Week'.
The QGBC official said last year's ‘Qatar Sustainability Week' attracted more than 10,000 participants to over 100 events held across three cities in Qatar. The week-long initiative, which will host several sustainability events across the country, is slated from October 28 to November 4, he said.
‘Qatar Sustainability Week' aims to further engage the community in a wide range of sustainability-oriented activities, he said, adding that the initiative plays a crucial role in raising awareness among the wider community, while showcasing the progress Qatar has made in the areas of sustainability and green buildings.
'One of the topics in this upcoming event is ‘Green Business is a Good Business'. Having green products without a business model will not be sustainable, so from an eco-friendly perspective, having the right business model will make it sustainable, al-Shamari pointed out.
The event serves as a platform to promote the nation's sustainability vision, as well as community engagement with relevant stakeholders under an overarching umbrella to achieve the nation's sustainable development goals, he added.
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