Muscat – Muscat Municipality has issued a warning against unregulated disposal of construction waste, stating that offenders face fines of up to RO1,000.

It is amplifying efforts to monitor waste transportation across Muscat governorate and has emphasised that indiscriminate waste dumping poses significant environmental hazards.

The municipality has increased frequency of its awareness campaigns, cautioning contractors and truck drivers about the environmental impacts of waste and the hefty fines they could incur. These actions fall in line with the municipality’s orders and laws designed to protect the environment from damage, especially from waste mismanagement.

Under local order 1/2006 on protective health and administrative decision 55/2017, fines have been put in place for violations. The municipality also mandates contractors and property owners to clean construction sites upon completion. Approvals and licences for utilities such as electricity and water will only be granted once safe waste disposal has been confirmed.

Administrative decision No 55/2017 has also been enacted to impose sanctions for violations of the Muscat Municipality law, as issued by Royal Decree No 38/2015. Specifically, for environmental offences, certain provisions state that anyone found disposing waste in public spaces, open squares or wadis will be fined RO1,000.

Repeat offenders will face a doubling of the fine, and a deadline of one day to transfer the waste to designated disposal sites. If the offender fails to remove construction or renovation waste or dumps it on third-party land or public spaces, they will be fined RO100. Repeat offences incur a fine of RO300, with a one-day deadline to rectify the violation.