World Cleanup Day 2023; Ministry of Municipality called on people in Qatar to refrain from littering and adhere to the law on public hygiene

The Ministry of Municipality in Qatar has once more urged residents to follow the country's public hygiene laws and refrain from littering in honour of World Cleanup Day 2023, which occurs on September 16. The ministry warned the public on its social media accounts that "leaving food waste on beaches, streets, and corniche ruins the overall view [of the surroundings]".

The Law No. 18 of 2017 governing public hygiene, as revised by Law No. 6 of 2023, requires citizens and residents to maintain hygiene in public spaces by disposing of garbage in specified containers. Failure to do so is a violation that is penalised.

The Ministry of Municipality in Qatar has once more urged residents to follow the country's public hygiene laws and refrain from littering in honour of World Cleanup Day 2023, which occurs on September 16.

The ministry warned the public on its social media accounts that "leaving food waste on beaches, streets, and corniche ruins the overall view [of the surroundings]". The Law No. 18 of 2017 governing public hygiene, as revised by Law No. 6 of 2023, requires citizens and residents to maintain hygiene in public spaces by disposing of garbage in specified containers. Failure to do so is a violation that is penalised.

According to the law, it is against the law to "leave, throw, pour, or dispose of waste, other than in places specified by the competent municipality, and in the event of violations, the competent municipality may remove the objects at the violator's expense, and imprison the transport vehicles used in these violations, for a period not exceeding three months."

In order to improve public behaviour, increase a sense of responsibility among all societal groups, and protect the environment, the Ministry of Municipality regularly runs enhanced efforts to stop infractions of the hygiene law's requirements. Therefore, a fine of QR10,000 is imposed for abandoning or discarding food waste in public areas or open spaces. Through its unified contact centre 184 and the Oun app, the ministry accepts complaints regarding violations of public hygiene. 

On World Cleanup Day, individuals are invited to combat the world's rubbish issue and clean up waste, referring to it as the "biggest positive civic action the world has ever seen."