New restrictions on exporting waste from Oman

Muscat: Those looking to export certain types of waste from next month will require a “no objection” letter to do so, Oman’s Environmental Services Holding Company — be’ah — announced.
The company, in coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said this rule will be applied from September 2, 2018, onwards.
Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Sheikh Mohammed Sulaiman Al Harthy, Executive Vice President for Strategic Development, be’ah, said: “The objective is to streamline and control the flow of the specified waste in order to develop a proper database of all the waste exported and to have detailed information about the source of generation, quantities, export destination, market for specific waste streams, etc., which will provide a better understanding of the supply and demand dynamics of such material through accurate data to facilitate decision making.”
The restricted materials, according to another official from be’ah, include used lead acid batteries, lead moulds, used tyres, all types of used oils (industrial, car lubricants, cooking oil, etc.), electronic waste, scrap cans, aluminium, scrap metals, all types of plastic and paper waste, in addition to cardboards. Be’ah has revealed that those who wish to export these waste products will need to obtain a “no objection” letter from them and will also need to submit a request through the online platform, “Bayan”, in order to export the specified waste.
“This changes the perception about waste to be viewed as a resource that offers new investment opportunities to local investors and SMEs and helps in directing these materials to existing companies that are established locally and specialised in recycling (e.g. lead acid batteries, plastic to a certain extent), hence maximising the in-country-value,” Al Harthy added.