• MENA waste generation hits 155M tonnes; 67% poorly managed, World Bank says
• Region risks $7.2B in yearly environmental damage, plastic pollution rising
• Waste could double by 2050; $23B annual investment needed for reform

Rapidly rising waste production in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is posing serious risks to human health and the environment and will require substantial investment, according to a World Bank report published on Jan. 26.

Titled éWaste Management in the Middle East and North Africa,” the report draws on data from 19 countries and 26 cities, representing nearly 6% of the global population.

A major challenge

The scale of the problem is reflected in several key indicators. Each resident of the region generates an average of 0.81 kilograms of waste per day, significantly more than in Sub-Saharan Africa (0.46 kg) and South Asia (0.52 kg). Annual waste generation in the MENA region reaches about 155 million tonnes, with Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco accounting for the largest volumes.

Although waste collection rates in the region are close to 80%, around 67% of total waste is poorly managed, either left uncollected, dumped in open areas, burned or not tracked. This is twice the global average.

This mismanagement causes an estimated $7.2 billion in environmental damage each year through air, soil and water pollution. It also undermines tourism development, as waste accumulation on beaches reduces their attractiveness and leads to lower visitor numbers and tourism revenues.

“The Mediterranean is among the world’s most plastic-polluted seas and MENA has the highest per-capita footprint of plastics entering the seas,” the report notes.

Overhauling waste management systems

Driven by population growth, urbanisation and rising incomes, waste generation in the MENA region could reach 294 million tonnes by 2050. This outlook requires governments to adopt proactive policies to reduce both environmental and economic costs, with waste reduction identified as the first priority.

According to the World Bank, a 1% reduction in waste volumes could save the region up to $150 million per year, notably through efforts to curb food waste and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

The report also estimates that annual spending on waste management will need to increase from $7.7 billion to $23 billion by 2050. Achieving this target will require greater adoption of circular economy practices. Around 83% of collected waste in the region could be reused, recycled, composted or recovered for energy, the authors estimate.

“This transformation requires new policies and infrastructure, and local conditions dictate what is achievable. Global experience shows that recycling rates of between 5 and 10 percent—and in some instances, even 20 percent— can be achieved with interventions from the informal sector, even without incentives. A recycling rate of up to 30 percent can be reached by improving existing systems at a relatively low cost,” the report says.

Beyond public authorities, the World Bank highlights the potential for greater private sector participation, both in terms of expertise and investment, while stressing the important role played by the informal sector in solid waste management.

“There is no simple, universal solution. Financially affordable solutions require making waste everybody’s problem. Citizens, local authorities, national governments, and the private sector are all part of the solution,” the authors conclude.

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