Qatar has emerged as a promising hub for waste management in the MENA region. The country’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy seek to make it a cleaner, greener and more sustainable nation for the present and future generations. The strategy identifies five environmental priorities: reducing greenhouse emissions, restoring biodiversity, establishing sustainable water management system, improving waste management and building a circular economy, and enhancing land use productivity.
The Ministry of Municipality launched an Integrated National Solid Waste Management Programme in June 2022. The programme targets an integrated development of all facilities and systems for collecting, transporting and managing solid waste following principles of circular economy and Qatar National Vision 2030. The programme will also help develop regulations and legislations related to waste sorting and recycling at the source for achieving the desired goal of zero waste and to stop landfills completely.
The Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre in Mesaieed is contributing greatly in achieving the strategic goals of the circular economy and waste management.
The Centre run by the Ministry of Municipality generated 271,378 MW of electricity through converting waste into energy in 2022. The Centre, the largest facility for waste management in the Middle East, received 667,114 tonnes of waste for treatment last year. As many as 144,408 tonnes of fertilisers, 12,566 tonnes iron, 10,098 tonnes plastic and 4,660 tonnes of non-ferrous metals were produced by the Centre.
Qatar also fulfilled its obligations in making the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 a sustainable and environment-friendly tournament. All the waste generated during the tournament venues were either recycled or converted into green energy. Twenty-eight percent of waste generated at the World Cup venues was converted into green energy, producing 558,340 kWh of electricity. The remaining 72 percent waste was recycled resulting in production of 797 tonnes of fertilisers, 202 tonnes plastic, 65 tonnes papers and cardboards, 60 tonnes metals and four tonnes glasses.
The country has implemented many initiatives and events to raise awareness about environment and reduce waste. An environmental event Cycle to Recycle aimed at raising awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was organised in December 2022, featuring a cycling tour around Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Most recently, the Ministry of Municipality has announced the launch of a ‘Zero Waste’ competition as part of Zero Waste Campaign in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to encourage students to create new ways to dispose waste, recycle and protect natural resources.
