Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) called for individuals and organisations nationwide to take part in an initiative today to reduce paper waste in the country, estimated at 5.4 million sheets a day. ‘No Paper Day Qatar’ has asked participants to record the amount of paper they use in a day and compare it with the amount they save it today. It also encouraged those taking part to ‘upcycle’ used paper products into creative projects, such as weaved baskets or paper flowers. As of yesterday, more than a dozen organisations and countless individuals had registered to participate in the day. Businesses in the construction, hospitality, oil and petroleum sectors took part alongside schools and educational organisations. Al Sharq newspaper is media partner for the day, with an advance series of articles on the issue. “As part of the Qatar National Vision 2030 to strike a balance between developmental needs and the protection of the nation’s environment, we must continue to raise awareness of the important role individuals and businesses play in preserving the country’s habitats for future generations,” said Meshal Al Shamari, Director of QGBC. “No Paper Day Qatar, which will be an annual event, is a national call to be more conscious of the paper we waste every day and how at the national level we can do more to conserve our natural resources. “Our Solid Waste Interest Group is at the forefront of this initiative, and together we will be examining the results of this event in a larger report on waste produced in Qatar later this month.” QGBC founded the Solid Waste Interest Group (SWiG) in 2010 to raise awareness about solid waste issues in Qatar’s built environment. Its aim is to help organisations and individuals eliminate or minimise solid waste generation and handle unavoidable waste in an environmentally conscious manner. As part of No Paper Day Qatar, SWiG provided the public with tips on how to save paper in their daily lives, whether at home, in the office or at school. Advice included sharing magazine and newspaper subscriptions with a friend or colleague, signing up for electronic bill payment and notifications, and refraining from using disposable goods. In November 2011, the group conducted Qatar’s first waste composition analysis at a beach clean-up. They have also led a major educational initiative in partnership with The Pearl-Qatar to turn discarded bottle tops into art. Student and adults participating in the project collected more than 60,000 bottle tops across Qatar, and the resulting Bottle Top Art project can be found on permanent display at The Pearl-Qatar. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/231766-call-to-mark-no-paper-day.html

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