Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
Western Asia
Oman
2003 Category 1 Winner
Cleanliness of Muscat Municipality
Muscat municipality, Oman
Description
Promoting the highest level of cleanliness in the city by boosting efficiency in garbage
collection and disposal, and promoting awareness campaigns among the population.
The Problem
Apart from projecting an image of one’s own culture, cleanliness is also a health and
environmental concern. By promoting high standards of hygiene, communities protect
themselves from diseases and epidemics.
The Solution
In the 1970s, Muscat Municipality, along with other government units, started to
implement plans aiming at developing and modernizing the city: building roads and
bridges, expanding the network of street lights and green spaces and constructing
public parks and utilities. The municipality’s responsibility was also extended to the
maintenance of the highest level of cleanliness, as well as preservation of the city’s
utilities. Thus, Muscat became a model example of beauty and cleanliness dazzling
the residents and visitors alike.
Specifically, the city has adopted measures to ensure high standards of cleanliness
within the municipality – including boosting efficiency of its internal operations,
staging campaigns to promote awareness in public and individual health, enlisting
the support of schools in environmental cleanups, keeping roads clean, and giving
attention to timely collection and disposal of garbage.
The subject of cleanliness is the top priority facing the municipalities. Territorial expansion
and population growth present their own set of challenges, and make keeping cities
clean a difficult task. High population concentration in a relatively small area requires
efficient waste removal and management processes. The difficulties lie not only in the
collection of garbage, but also in its disposal in a proper manner, in order to reduce its
environmental impact and health hazards it creates. For this reason, Muscat Municipality
concentrated its efforts on this aspect. Therefore, cleanliness became an apparent and
deeply rooted feature of the city of Muscat, enabling the Municipality to win many Arab
and international awards and gaining high reputation among modern cities.
For more information, please visit: www.mm.govt.om
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