Q. What are the objectives of this new flagship report on waste management and circular economy in MENA?
The report aims to provide a regional diagnostic of solid waste management (SWM) systems in MENA, measure their performance against global levels, and offer a roadmap to improve waste management and scale up circular economy (CE) solutions. It draws on newly collected data from 19 countries and 26 cities and provides tailored policy guidance for countries at different income and fragility levels. The goal is to reduce environmental and economic costs, enhance public health, and unlock new economic opportunities including better jobs, through more circular practices. A cleaner environment will make the region more attractive to tourism, an expected driver of growth.
Q. Why is this issue urgent for MENA?
MENA generates over 155 million tons of waste annually, with per capita waste generation exceeding the global average. With no action, waste volumes are projected to nearly double by 2050. Mismanaged waste already causes an estimated US$7.2 billion per year in environmental damages, equivalent to the GDP of Jordan or Tunisia every six years. Meanwhile, only 10% of waste is reused, recycled, or composted, and about 67% is mismanaged. The consequences include water and air pollution, food insecurity, plastic leakage into seas, and declining tourism potential.
Q. What are the most critical areas of concern highlighted in the report?
- Plastic pollution: MENA has the highest per capita plastics emissions into the sea, and the high rate of waste mismanaged is putting the tourism industry and tourism-related jobs at risk.
- Food waste: Food waste costs up to US$60 billion annually, a particularly alarming number as parts of the region face food insecurity and rely on imports for over 60% of food consumed.
- Underinvestment: While US$7.7 billion is spent annually on waste management, collection is relatively efficient, but treatment and disposal levels lag behind. Spending on waste reduction and circular economy measures like recycling is particularly low, compared to similar countries.
- Lost economic opportunity: 83 percent of the waste collected in MENA could be reused, recycled, or recovered for energy.
Q. What does the report recommend to address these challenges?
The report recommends these three priorities:
- Increasing financing, particularly via user fees, partnerships between public and private sectors, and extended producer responsibility mechanisms.
- Reducing food and packaging waste through behavioral and policy interventions.
- Improving institutional coordination between national and municipal stakeholders and investing in digital systems and data collection tools.
Responses should be tailored to country context: High-income countries can significantly reduce landfilling and scale circular solutions to capture waste before it goes to landfill; middle-income countries can reach universal collection and improve recovery and treatment; and fragile and conflict-affected states can prioritize low-tech and low-cost approaches, especially community-based.
Q. How can a circular economy help create jobs and support inclusive growth in MENA?
The waste sector already provides an estimated 400,000 formal and about as many informal jobs. A shift toward circular economy practices, such as reuse, recycling, and repair, could generate more and better jobs, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized communities. Harnessing the full potential of the informal sector will require careful consultation and coordination. The private sector can play a key role in recovery, composting, and materials innovation. With the right incentives and systems in place, circular solutions can turn waste into a resource and a driver of economic inclusion.
Q. What is the cost of inaction, and what is the payoff of reform and investment?
The cost of continuing with business-as-usual is substantial: environmental damages of US$7.2 billion annually, worsening public health, and missed economic opportunities. In contrast, the report finds that even a 1% reduction in waste generation could yield savings of US$150 million annually in the region. Full implementation of modern waste and circular economy practices will require countries to triple current spending from $7.7 to US$22 billion/year by 2050, a level of spending expected to be affordable given the region’s projected economic growth.
Q. How does the World Bank Group plan to support countries in implementing these recommendations?
The World Bank Group will continue to support countries through:
- Solutions at scale: combining deep knowledge in policies, technical assistance, and advisory support to inform governments’ reforms and attract private investments. This includes supporting regional knowledge exchange and best-practice sharing; building capacity; raising awareness; and engaging with communities, a key ingredient of success in the waste sector.
- Finance: financing policy reforms and governments’ programs and providing project financing for investments in Circular Economy and Solid Waste Management, crowding-in private capital and guarantees through IFC and MIGA. Examples include supporting extended producer responsibility policies, development of standards, investments in recycling infrastructure and enabling policies, production of environmentally-friendly replacements for single use plastics, or investments for the rehabilitation of dumpsites and redevelopment of sanitary landfills.
- Convening power: engaging with all actors of the waste value chain, from national and local governments, the private sector, the informal sector, development partners, civil society, and communities.
- Focus on jobs, climate, and resilience: supporting private-led growth, contributing to creation of new and better jobs through circular models and reducing methane emissions from the waste sector.
Q. Where can readers find more information?
Full Report: Waste Management in Middle East and North Africa
Overview reports in French and English