7th May 2019 • article
A Birmingham mosque is going plastic free for Ramadan by banning water bottles
Image: GLMCC
Every year the popular Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre in Birmingham distributes plastic water bottles to its congregation every night during Ramadan.
They distributed so many the masjid had to hire a skip to remove the large number of water bottles every year.
But not this year.
"It's estimated that we distribute an average of 800 to 1,000 bottles every evening in Ramadan . This generates a shocking amount of plastic waste," its spokesperson told the Birmingham Mail.
"With this in mind, we have taken the decision not to issue plastic water bottles to our congregation this Ramadan."
Instead the masjid and community centre has purchased reusable bottles and will install water fountains for the congregation.
The partnership with ecobirmingham will also look at other ways GLMCC can reduce its environmental impact.
Michael Addison of ecobirmingham, said the UK uses 13 billion plastic bottles a year and 7.7 billion of those are water bottles. "Over half the plastic bottles we use are not recycled. They end up in landfill or as litter or waste in our streets, canals and rivers."
The GLMCC said: "Whether you bring your own or purchase our branded bottles, help reduce your plastic waste this Ramadan!
"Pick one up when you come for taraweeh! We look forward to seeing you inshÄ’AllÄh!"
"There's a verse in the Qur'an - Surah Al-An’am, ayat 141 - that states: 'And waste not by excess: for Allah does not love those who waste (by extravagance)'," said its spokesperson.
They distributed so many the masjid had to hire a skip to remove the large number of water bottles every year.
But not this year.
"It's estimated that we distribute an average of 800 to 1,000 bottles every evening in Ramadan . This generates a shocking amount of plastic waste," its spokesperson told the Birmingham Mail.
"With this in mind, we have taken the decision not to issue plastic water bottles to our congregation this Ramadan."
Instead the masjid and community centre has purchased reusable bottles and will install water fountains for the congregation.
The partnership with ecobirmingham will also look at other ways GLMCC can reduce its environmental impact.
Michael Addison of ecobirmingham, said the UK uses 13 billion plastic bottles a year and 7.7 billion of those are water bottles. "Over half the plastic bottles we use are not recycled. They end up in landfill or as litter or waste in our streets, canals and rivers."
The GLMCC said: "Whether you bring your own or purchase our branded bottles, help reduce your plastic waste this Ramadan!
"Pick one up when you come for taraweeh! We look forward to seeing you inshÄ’AllÄh!"
"There's a verse in the Qur'an - Surah Al-An’am, ayat 141 - that states: 'And waste not by excess: for Allah does not love those who waste (by extravagance)'," said its spokesperson.
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