The document discusses solid waste management challenges and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa region. It notes that solid waste generation is expected to exceed 200 million tons per year by 2020, and that $6.5-9.3 billion will be needed for investment over the next 10 years. While 80% of waste is decomposable, only 5% is recycled. It also provides data on current and projected waste generation and management practices in SWEEP-Net partner countries. The document advocates adopting policies to promote recycling and green technologies as a way to address waste issues and create jobs in the region.

1. The Regional Solid Waste Exchange of Information and
Expertise Network in the Middle East and North Africa Region
TOWARDS GREENING THE SOLID WASTE
SECTOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND
NORTH AFRICA REGION
Presented by: Mr Anis ISMAIL, SWEEP-Net Secretary General
Source: SWEEP-Net secretariat, S.Arif, H.Abaza - 2012

2. Solid Waste sector in the MENA Region
• Solid waste in Arab countries is estimated to exceed
200 million tons per year by 2020
• Investment needs over next 10 years for: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia,
Yemen estimated between US$ 6.5-9.3 billion
• Cities in MENA region spend between 20-50% on SWM
• Though 80% of solid waste is decomposable 5% is recycled
• Damage cost amounting to 0.3% of GDP in 2006
2

3. MSW GENERATION IN THE SWEEP-NET PARTNER COUNTRIES
Total Generation 48 Million Tons / year
MSW generation Million T/year
25
20
15
10
5
0
Mauritania Morocco Algeria Tunisia Egypt Lebanon Syria Jordan Yemen
Draft data produced for SWEEP-Net

4. MSW COMPOSITION IN THE SWEEP-NET PARTNER COUNTRIES
Total population 211 Million
MSW Composition
120
100 %Others
80 %Metal
60 %Glass
40 %Plastic
20
%Paper/.paper board
0
%Organic
Draft data produced for SWEEP-Net

5. MSW MANAGEMENT IN THE SWEEP-NET PARTNER COUNTRIES
MSW Generation (KG / capita / year) MSW Collection (%coverage)
400 120
350
100
300
80
250
200 60
150 40
100
20
50
0
0
MSW collection coverage in urban areas (%)
MSW collection coverage in rural areas (%)
Draft data produced for SWEEP-Net

6. PROJECTED MSW GENERATION IN PARTNER COUNTRIES (in M tons /y )
by 2025 total generation is 78.0 M Tons/year
35
30
25
20
2010
15
2015
2020
10
2025
5
0
Draft data produced for SWEEP-Net

7. Cost per Ton for collection and disposal
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Mauritania Morocco Algeria Tunisia Egypt Lebanon Syria Jordan Yemen
Cost per ton for collection ( $ /ton) Collection per ton for disposal ( $ /ton) Total
Draft data produced for SWEEP-Net

8. The Waste Sector Did Not Escape from the
Socio- Political Turmoil of the Arab Spring
• Uncollected waste in the streets for many days. In
Egypt the army had to intervene for garbage
collection
• Strikes of municipalities ‘ workers
• Destruction of Properties
• Closure of a sanitary landfills in Tunisia
• Cancellation of Private Operator in Alexandria and
refusal of increasing contract fees in Cairo
• Hostages of Garbage workers in Yemen
• Looting of garbage equipment in Yemen and Egypt

9. After Shocks on the MSW Sector in the MENA
• Governments would not attempt to take reform measures in the MSW
sector that would lead to public dissatisfaction.
• Garbage collection remains with minimum investments in order to ensure
cleanliness.
• Cost recovery is not likely to increase and private sector participation will
either be frozen or decreased in favor of involving public institutions.
• The international financing institutions and donors have also revised their
assistance strategies to the MENA region. Emphasis will be on
governance, jobs, food crisis and the poor .
• There is also a call for stabilizing for macro-economic environment and
sustain growth that is inclusive , provide gains to the largest segment of
the population and provide confidence for the private sector to create jobs

10. Yet Greening the Municipal Waste Sector is still in its Early Years
• Municipal waste services are still defined in terms of "cleanliness,"
with very limited attention and resources to the 4R.
• Lack of political will, institutional and legal framework as well as
incentives

11. Opportunities Provided for the MENA Region
The Expected Growth of the Waste Market
Approximately 80 million tons in 2025 which is likely to increase the market
share for recyclables with a minimum of 7-9 million tons for recyclables.
Availability of Green technologies
Waste to Energy in Egypt and Lebanon, Mechanical and Biologic
Treatment, Bio-Methanation for high grade composting
Taking advantage of the new social programs developed by post -revolution
governments
Create jobs and establish a formal labor force from waste recycling and
recovery, especially in a region where cheap labour cost could potentially
offset expensive technology options.

12. Marrakesh declaration towards "Greening" the Waste Sector
-Strengthen the legal and institutional SWM frameworks while
integrating the green economy principles;
-Develop clear policies and national programs, taking into account
the principles of green economy including cost recovery, fiscal issues
and the adoption of planning mechanisms
-Link the current SWM problems with green economy and refrain
from treating environmental problems separately from economic,
financial, and social challenges;
- Regard waste as a resources and as potential for job creation;
-Adopt an integrated SWM approach and encourage and promote
the “3R” principles of reduce, reuse, recycle;
-Support for communication between decision-makers for the
purpose of promoting the concept of sustainable development and
green economy in the SW sector

13. Marrakesh declaration towards "Greening" the Waste Sector
- Reinforce cooperation In the region in order to develop the appropriate framework to
achieve the objectives in the field of "greening" of waste and work towards the goal of
"zero waste";
- Support for all networks, initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening cooperation and
the exchange of experiences and expertise in the field of integrated waste
management, including SWEEP-Net, IPLA, the CIUDAD) and Horizon 2020 projects, and
ISWA;
- Adopt the goals set forth by IPLA and the contents of the Declaration of Daegu
and the 2011 ISWA World Congress to advance towards the goal of "zero waste";
- Encourage local communities and the private sector to rigorously work towards the
targets set forth by IPLA to achieve the goal of "zero - waste".

14. PARTNER COUNTRIES
• Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestinian
Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.
PARTNER INSTITUTIONS
• Ministries and agencies responsible for SWM in the partner countries
• The German Federal Government through the GIZ
• The Tunisian Government through the ANGed
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Promote South-South and North-South cooperation and knowledge transfer
Implement a regional platform for the exchange of experience and expertise
Conduct training and capacity building activities in SWM
Develop guiding documents, studies, tools for decision makers and pilot operations

15. THANK YOU !
www.sweep-net.org
contact@sweep-net.org
anis.ismail@sweep-net.org
anis.ismail@giz.de