Oman’s SOHAR Port and Freezone (SOHAR) has kicked off a new recycling initiative for plastics, glass, and paper as part of its environmental initiatives.
A statement from SOHAR said that the company prides itself on some of the strictest and best-policed environmental standards in the region, both above and below the waterline. SOHAR has installed solar-powered recycling bins throughout its port and freezone. To help raise awareness of the issues affecting the marine environment and to encourage recycling, the company recently installed drop-off points at strategic locations around the port and freezone. Colour coded bins have been allotted for glass, paper and plastics, while solar powered, backlit panels allow the latest environmental campaign messages to be displayed.
Last year, an international study estimated that a staggering eight million metric tonnes of plastic waste enters the oceans from land each year.
Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO, SOHAR Port and Freezone, said: “This is not simply an aesthetic problem, we know these materials breakdown over time to create so-called micro-plastics, that are ingested by fish and other marine organisms and can then easily enter the human food chain.”
SOHAR aims to reduce the amount of material discarded around its concession areas through improved environmental awareness initiatives, beach clean-up volunteer days, and better communication between the various stakeholders involved.
“When it comes to environmental pollution, prevention is always the best option and our new recycling bins will play a small but important part,” Geilenkirchen concluded.
SOHAR’s kick-off campaign shows an underwater view of a beautiful coral reef. However, when you look more closely the coral is made of colourful plastic waste, the jellyfish are floating plastic bags, and a passing school of fish are in fact old bottles. The headline makes the message clear: Recycle it up here. Not down there.