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Waste to Energy

Having recognized the negative consequences of the currently widely used approach of landfilling to deal with municipal solid waste in most MENA countries, some countries have started to develop more ecofriendly and affordable adaptations for landfilling. These solutions have centered on the construction of controlled sanitary landfills in combination with different methods of waste treatment such as sorting, recycling, and composting facilities or waste-to-energy systems. Unfortunately, waste-to-energy (WtE) strategies are still receiving less attention than other conventional routes of treatment, despite their importance for a sustainable management of solid waste.

Globally, waste-to-energy has become a widely-used approach for efficient waste management, which is getting increasing attention. The energy generated through this method can potentially offset the use of fossil fuels for energy production, thus boosting energy security and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions related to fossil fuel extraction. In addition, WtE can create business and employment opportunities for different communities, helping to lower unemployment. 

The implementation of the WtE-approach in the MENA region faces many challenges, however. Some of these challenges are due to the absence of waste separation scheme at the source, ineffective waste collection methods, the lack of suitable WtE generation technology and a lack of financial support and policies related to WtE. Other challenges include lacking research, innovation and building capacities in the field. Furthermore, WtE methods such as incineration are usually expensive and their environmental impact is still regarded as uncertain, especially due to the stigma that persists in the public mind based on experiences of these methods being a polluting form of waste management. 

In order to overcome these challenges, MENA countries are in need of support in designing and implementing solid waste management policies, strategies and plans at the national and local level. It is against this backdrop that KAS REMENA, in collaboration with the Tunisian Association of Doctors and PhDs in Science, brought an international expert delegation with representatives from Germany, Morocco, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon to Tunisia from 21-24 November 2022 for a two-part workshop series and talks with public decision-makers, such as the Governor of Sfax and the Director of the Tunisian National Waste Management Agency. The discussions offered the opportunity to exchange on innovative technological solutions for solid waste management, necessary institutional and regulatory frameworks to encourage private investment as well as potentials for regional cooperation in this regard. Another area of discussion was the role of academic research in the further development of locally-adapted waste management solutions in the countries of the MENA region.