The Qatar government has identified waste as one of the most critical environmental problems in the country. Due to an increasing population, a rise in construction due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022, and ambitious industrial growth, Qatar’s continuous investment in sustainable waste management will continue to be a mainstay of the country’s environmental policy.
Yesterday, the Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie launched the Integrated National Solid Waste Management Program, during the 2nd Waste Management Conference and Exhibition 2022.
According to Al Subaie, the Ministry of Municipality has developed a comprehensive strategy to deal with all types of waste and has also adopted a comprehensive plan through an integrated national programme for solid waste management. The programme will create an integrated infrastructure to manage solid waste activities, reduce waste volume, and strengthen partnerships with the private sector to invest in the solid waste management sector, and raise and consolidate public awareness regarding waste reduction and the importance of recycling.
He noted that to achieve these goals, the Ministry formed a team to achieve the programme’s best possible results. International companies specialised in this field were also hired to support the team in implementing the desired goals to preserve environmental safety and achieve sustainable development to find the best solutions and use modern technology to keep pace with the population growth and the urban and economic development in Qatar.
Qatar produces more than 2.5 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, corresponding to a daily generation rate of about 2.5 kg per capita. Most solid waste (domestic, commercial, industrial and construction) produced in Qatar ended up in landfills, with just a fraction of the total waste recycled until recently.
Last year, the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy were launched with plans to develop waste management infrastructure and improve the consumption of materials such as construction, food and the industrial sector. Besides, organisers have earmarked the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to be the first carbon-neutral tournament, largely due to the sustainable measures and processes involved in hosting the tournament.
The Domestic Solid Waste Management Center and waste sorting plant by Qatar Foundation are also practical examples of the commitment to adequate waste management systems. Qatar has also put in place ambitious aims to achieve its strategy, which includes accounting for 100 percent of all wastes, completing a 15 percent material recycling rate of municipal wastes and using 35 percent of circular procurement in public infrastructure.
