PLANS to completely remove garbage containers from across the Capital Governorate are underway, it emerged yesterday.
A new system, where people will have to take their garbage out at specific times, will be introduced instead.
Trucks will make their rounds within scheduled timings to collect garbage bags from outside houses.
The Manama Municipal Council will now start a three-month trial in the third constituency, which includes the Manama Suq and the Central Market areas, Naim, Ghufool and Burhama.
It will then decide on the feasibility of the project and whether it should go ahead or not.
Council services and public utilities committee chairman Sadiq Rahma said residents had been complaining that the containers were a source of bad smell and posed a real danger to public health.
"Garbage piles up because the containers are not being cleaned up properly," he said.
"Cleaning company workers only remove garbage bags and throw them directly to trucks, leaving other waste behind.
"Those containers are ugly and don't give a good image of our neighbourhoods," he said.
"People prefer not to use containers and even those using them just throw garbage from a distance, whether it falls inside or not no one bothers.
"This is why many leave bags outside their homes and instead of encouraging people to use something they are not convinced with, a new system has to be introduced."
Mr Rahma said that currently trucks collect gar-bage bags from the container and outside homes.
"Since people don't like containers, we should come up with a system where cleaning company employees collect bags at specific times," he said.
"I know that fellow councillors want the new system tested before approving it and this is why I have volunteered to have it done in my constituency over the next three months."
Mr Rahma said that now that councillors voted in favour of his idea, he would do his best to ensure its success.
"I know that residents in my constituency will be happy with containers being gone. Instead garbage bags will now be removed from their doorstep.
"This is what I call a proper cleaning home service."
Meanwhile, Mr Rahma said that the council would also introduce coloured bags within the next phase of the project.
"This is the first step and if successful, we will introduce coloured bags, where garbage can be divided such as medical waste, plastic, diapers, cans and food leftovers among others.
"We are thinking ahead as we plan to start our own recycling project, which will help us make proper use of garbage."
