Residents in the Northern Municipality of Bahrain are facing frustration over malfunctioning garbage bag dispensing machines, with half of them being out of order. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that only one or two employees are responsible for handling the distribution of bags in the most densely populated area of the Kingdom. Abdullah Al Qubaisi, a member of the North Area Municipal Council, has raised concerns about citizens’ dissatisfaction with the distribution of garbage bags. Complaints about empty or malfunctioning machines are frequent, highlighting the inefficiency of the current system.
Al Qubaisi criticized the current system involving bag dispensing machines as ineffective and called on municipalities to take measures to reduce citizens’ frustration. He suggested installing more machines or repairing the existing ones in municipal buildings to address the issue. Approximately half of the five bag dispensing machines in the Northern Governorate are either broken or out of stock, leaving citizens unable to obtain their allotted bags and causing inconvenience. The current system requires citizens to visit municipal headquarters and endure long queues, especially during hot weather, which can last from 8 am to 12 pm.
The five machines distributed across the cities and villages of the Northern Governorate are insufficient to meet the needs of the region’s dense population, the highest in the country. Each machine can only hold 100 bag packages, complicating distribution due to the absence of a schedule for refilling or maintaining the machines. Al Qubaisi proposed that the new cleaning contract with the relevant company should include procedures for garbage bag distribution to improve efficiency. He believes that the responsible company would manage distribution more efficiently, saving citizens time and effort.
In addition to the malfunctioning machines, Al Qubaisi highlighted that the current distribution process in municipal buildings is managed by only one or two overwhelmed employees who handle both data entry and bag distribution tasks. He suggested providing three bag packages per person retroactively to simplify the process and prevent inconvenience over a single bag package. These measures aim to address the frustration of residents in the Northern Municipality and improve the distribution of garbage bags in the area.
Overall, the situation with malfunctioning garbage bag dispensing machines in the Northern Municipality of Bahrain has led to frustration among residents due to the lack of availability and efficiency in obtaining their allotted bags. The current system with only five machines, often broken or out of stock, is insufficient to meet the needs of the densely populated region. Al Qubaisi’s proposed solutions, including involving the relevant cleaning company in distribution procedures and providing three bag packages per person retroactively, aim to improve the situation and reduce citizen frustration. By addressing these issues, municipalities can ensure a more efficient and convenient garbage bag distribution process for residents in the Northern Municipality.
