Facts and Figures on Aspects of Waste Management in Middle East and North Africa Region

Abstract

The waste management field in Middle Eastern and North African countries suffers from multiple drawbacks and chronic problems that require strategic solutions and collaboration among various institutions. Due to a lack of data, a financial deficit, limited economic resources for the municipalities, and singular treatment processes, until recently, waste has been dealt with as garbage that needs to be disposed of, while, in a large number of developed countries, waste now represents a substantial economic resource and an important source of materials that can be reinserted into the industrial sector. This paper presents a review of several aspects and sectors that are directly related to waste generation and the current situation regarding the waste management system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in terms of composition, generated amount/capita, existing treatment routes, and institutional frameworks. Furthermore, gross domestic production and population growth are specified as critical factors governing the waste sector in the region. Such data and information will increase the possibility of drawing a roadmap to convert the current waste treatment stream into a material flow concept and circular economy. The energy sector (energy consumption) is also considered to illustrate the potential role of waste if incineration technology (energy recovery from waste) is realized as a radical solution for the waste system in the region. Following a review of the literature, the main challenges in the waste management sector that need to be solved are summarized. The novelty of this work is two-fold. First, it elucidates the connection between gross domestic product (GDP), waste composition, and waste generation. According to the literature, countries with a high GDP produce a greater amount of waste (around 1.5–2.7 kg/capita/day) with a lower organic share of waste composition of around 40%, as they have an increased lifestyle rate. Second, a review of energy consumption per capita illuminates the essential role of waste as a source of energy.