In Qatar, not often associated with zero-waste initiatives, one weekend market is bucking the trend and encouraging visitors to ditch plastic for more sustainable choices.
For forgetful shoppers, a stall manned by volunteers hands out free porcelain mugs on condition they are returned, after which they are washed and reused. "If one more person or three more people come out of this season having reduced waste, or reduced their footprint, I think that's amazing. The more people we can bring and change, the better."As far back as 1974, Qatar passed a"general cleanliness" law. Then in its 2004 constitution, it pledged to"protect the environment and ecological balance".The country currently produces 2.
Individuals in Gulf states produce 1.5 kilograms of waste per day on average, roughly 14 percent of which is plastic, according to a Qatar University study."I was told I should have a badge for the plastic police," laughed juice stall-holder Sarah Cameron, a New Zealander who came to Qatar to teach, but now consults for the market on sustainability strategies.