A new World Bank report, Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa, reveals that the MENA region generates more waste per person than the global average, causing an estimated US$7.2 billion in environmental damage each year. The region produces over 155 million tons of waste annually, a figure projected to double by 2050 if no action is taken, posing growing threats to public health, the environment, and the tourism sector.
Almud Weitz, Regional Practice Director for Infrastructure at the World Bank, emphasized that urban centers are on the frontline of the waste challenge. He highlighted the importance of improving waste service delivery to reduce pollution, protect communities, and ensure cities continue to drive economic growth and opportunity.
Although waste collection rates are relatively high at nearly 80 percent on average, recycling and treatment lag far behind. Less than 10 percent of waste is recycled, and over two-thirds is mismanaged, contributing to air, soil, and water pollution, marine litter, and serious health risks. The region also has the highest per-capita plastic leakage into the seas, with the Mediterranean among the world’s most polluted. Mesky Brhane, Regional Practice Director, Planet Department, noted that even a modest 1 percent reduction in waste generation could save the region up to US$150 million annually, underscoring the potential of modernizing waste systems and adopting circular economy solutions.
The report, drawing on data from 19 countries and 26 cities, outlines tailored strategies for different income levels. High-income countries can reduce landfilling and scale circular solutions, middle-income countries can achieve universal waste collection while improving recovery and treatment, and fragile or conflict-affected states can implement low-cost, community-based approaches.
Up to 83 percent of the waste collected in MENA could be reused, recycled, or recovered for energy. Transitioning to a circular economy could create better jobs in waste management and recycling, turning the region’s growing waste crisis into a driver of sustainable growth, improved public health, and enhanced tourism prospects.
