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Waste management: current developments in the Arabic countries

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 Waste management: current developments
in the Arabic countries

Abdallah Nassour, Abdulkader Majanny, Michael Nelles

1. Introduction

The pressure for the implementation of a sustainable and environmentally compatible waste and
substance flow management increases in the Arabic countries. The realisation of gained knowl-
edge is a long process and should last in the future. For a successful implementation it is decisive
that responsible persons and decision makers understand the scientific background of the neces-
sary protection of resources. This qualification is needed to plan projects and to support continual
improvement. The government needs to establish laws and edicts to enable environmental solu-
tions that are created and offered by local industry and science. The necessary know-how, high-
quality technology, training and practical knowledge need to be imported from countries that al-
ready possess long-term experiences in waste management. The choice of effective solutions
through international experts, the purchase of qualified technology and the proper run of plants
are the most important parameters to setup waste management in Arabic countries.
The necessary expert knowledge from the beginning to the realisation and the operation of sys-
tems in practice is very comprehensive. Know-how needs to accumulate over generations. Ex-
perience can not be bought by a call for proposals or the mere implementation of new technology.
Experience can only be gained by running processes and be updated depending on available
technical and scientific possibilities. Research, development and realisation are basic elements
for the constitution and growth of knowledge. The Arabic countries and other developing countries
do not reconsider these important elements. Instead, they want to implement technologies that
are mainly financed by aid organisations. This also concerns the rich Gulf States. Several waste
treatment plants are built with the help of high investments in the Arabic countries, but are not
kept in process.
The main reason is that the purchase and construction are only measures for short-term. The
running of a plant is a long-term process and needs a lot of experiences, a qualified management
and well-trained local personnel. Unfortunately, the Arabic countries do not reconsider these basic
elements early enough.

The existing plants can be put into operation in short time after simple technical modifications.
The German waste disposal industry in co-operation with the project „renewables made in Ger-
many“ of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development can make an important contribution. The integration und involvement of Ger-
man institutions (universities, GTZ, Reconstruction Loan Corporation, etc.) and commercial enter-
prises having experiences and contacts are recommended to gain results in short time.
Another urgent problem next to the current problems of „fresh“ waste in the Arabic countries is the
„treatment of old deposits”. Countries such as Saudi-Arabia, Kuwait, Tunisia, Qatar etc. deal with
the subject of old deposits. Appropriate technical and economic solutions are necessary. The city
of Jeddah in Saudi-Arabia has published a call for proposals in February 2008 for the covering of
old deposits. A local partner in cooperation with a German consortium is part of the project. The
entire know-how and the construction supervision are imported from Germany.

1
The situation of waste management in the Arabic countries can be summarised with following
facts and criteria (fig. 1):

Fig. 1 Facts and criteria of the situation of waste management in the Arabic countries

• politicians recognised the problem and solutions are urgently in demand,

• laws are scarce and can not be realised,
• low waste fees can not cover the costs,
• tendency to private enterprises in collection and transport,
• collection and transport are paid (ca. 20-30 €/Mg),
• finances for treatment are in discussion (ca. 10-20 € are possible, depending on region),
• own test or pilot projects are difficult to realise,
• missing practical experience in conception, planning and operating,
• lack of specialist engineer offices,
• lack of qualified personnel on all levels,
• co-operation with a strong local partner is necessary.

The current situation is very favourable for the German and international waste dis-
posal industry to become active in this region

2. Current situation of waste management in selected countries

2.1 Saudi-Arabia
Saudi-Arabia is the wealthiest and biggest country of the Gulf region with about 20 million inhabi-
tants. The country recognised the subject matter waste management. Presently, various activities
take place in terms of collection, transport, construction of landfills, construction of waste treat-
ment plants, recultivation of old deposits, the incineration of hospital waste etc.
Last year, the city of Jeddah (3 million inh.) distributed the collection and transport to three local
companies for 5 years. New containers and waste collecting trucks were bought. The company
SULO took part in the project and delivered 9.000 plastic containers (1100 l). Local companies
purchased the collecting trucks. The financial volume of the project “collection, transport and city
cleaning” for 5 years is about 250 Mio. €. The city opened a landfill site in which waste is stored
without further treatment at the moment. This landfill and the old dumping ground are overweight
with uncontrolled waste disposals, the responsible persons are forced to act. It is planned to recul-
tivate the old dumping ground, a call for proposals is currently published. Different recycling tech-
nologies as construction waste treatment plants, scrap tire treatment plants, scrap wood crushing
units and composting were purchased and are supposed to produce material for the coverage.
This project runs over 3 years. The city provides all necessary technology and equipment for the
recycling plants and landfill coverage. The contractor has to assemble and to operate these plants
and to cover the landfill. The finanical effort for this project adds up to ca. 12. Mio. €.
In February 2008, the city Al-Madeenah published a call for proposals for the operating of a land-
fill, for the construction of a modern disposal site for the next 15 years, for the construction and
operating of an incineration plant for religious documents for 5 years, composting, etc. The finan-
cial effort for this project adds up to ca. 80 Mio. €.
Almost all cities plan to establish modern waste management and provide the necessary finance.
In the near future, several landfill sites will be planned and built. The German know-how in the
field of waste management is in great demand.

Advantages: recognition of the problem and provision of necessary capital

Weaknesses:
• lack of trained personnel for the planning of practice-oriented solutions,
• not enough cooperation with international engineering offices,

2
 • purchase of technologies without having the right concept with the reasoning „the money
needs to be spent this year …“,
• lack of trained personnel for running the plants,
• workers in the field of waste disposal are not paid well enough

2.2 Syria
The country of Syria worked out a master plan for waste management about 3 years ago, which is
financially supported by France and was developed by a French engineering office. About 40
waste disposals, 100 treatment plants and about 500 transfer stations are planned to be built until
the year 2014. /Fig. 1/.

Fig. 1: Master plan of waste management for Syria with the city Damascus as example

The Syrian government accepted this master plan and provided the necessary budget. For certain
cities, calls for proposals for the realisation had been worked out by local engineering offices and
universities. The realisation of the master plan is not possible for the following reasons:

→ Most of the calls for proposals and projects are planned in a very complex and complicated
way. One example for these calls would be that all of the following elements are demanded
for: the construction of a complete landfill site, a sorting facility, a compost plant, the tech-
nology for operating, the construction of streets and buildings, the planning of the land-
scape. As a general rule, such calls are published over 4-6 weeks. But the specific compa-
nies and engineering offices do not have the capability to realise such great projects. There-
fore, many calls for proposals stay without response.

Germany supports Syria in the frame of a PPP-project as professional assistance to establish

waste management in the city Aleppo. This project is supported and accompanied by the engi-
neering company S.I.G Dr. Steffen GmbH from Lühburg, Germany and the University of Rostock.
The DEG has financed the project since the beginning of 2007. Fig. 2 presents the group from the
Governorate Aleppo that is trained in Germany.

3
Fig. 2: Group from Syria while the training in Germany

More than 20 German companies took part into the training. Veolia (former SULO Group) made
an important contribution in the field of practical know-how.

Advantages: working out a master plan and recognition by the government which as conse-
quence provided the necessary capital

Weaknesses:
• excessive demands to the administration,
• calls of proposals are not prepared by professional engineering companies,
• the budget for the effort in planning is very low,
• most of the requests of proposal can not be realised,
• lack of construction- and engineering companies for the realisation,
• lack of practical knowledge for the implementation and operating.

2.3 Tunisia
Tunisia is the leading country in waste management within the Arabic countries. In 1997, the pa-
ckaging ordinance came into effect. Comparable to Germany, producers, distributors and import-
ers in Tunisia are obliged to take back used packages free of charge and to utilise them with most
modern technology. The withdrawal and especially the utilisation of the packages through a third
party are done by a standardised collecting and utilisation system “Eco-Lef” (comparable to DSD).
About 2 years ago, the government agency for waste ANGED was founded to administrate the
waste management in Tunisia.
The main tasks of ANGED are the following:

Controlling of the complete waste management system through the employment of national and
international specialists,
active cooperation in the preparation of draft laws and regulations,
comprehensive assistance to the communes, by producers of waste and industrial companies in
the field of waste disposal through training, further education, information but also through finan-
cial and technical aid,
taking part in the preparation of a national plan for waste disposal,

4
creation of support programme and strategies for the realisation of national aims in the field of
waste management, e.g. ways of hazardous waste and domestic waste utilisation,
creation of a financial frame for waste management programmes through international aid pro-
grammes,
conduction of studies and works in the field of solid waste,
evaluation of documents and licence suggestions for companies working in the field of waste,
commission of the private industry in Construction and operating of waste treatment plants and
landfill sites,
creation of plans for hazardous waste management.

With foreign capital e.g. KfW, in the last 2-3 years 9 new standardised-landfills and the necessary
transfer station had been built. Fig. 3 shows the location of waste treatment plants and hazardous
waste storages and –centres in Tunisia.
The government agency for waste ANGED has
commissioned the private industry for the opera-
tion of the transfer stations and landfills for 5
years, based on the cooperation with communal
structures and well worked out calls for proposals.
Almost all necessary technology and equipment
were provided by ANGED and the communal unit
respectively. Most of the landfills were built
without leachate treatment plants. With the
commission of the private industry for the opera-
ton of the landfill, the contractor has to built and
run leachate treatment plants „reverse osmosis“.
Leachate treatment plants are not built on smaller
landfills. The leachate is transported and treated
in a central treatment plant. Circulate flow of
leachate is possible. The costs for the transport of
the waste from the transfer station to the landfill,
the disposal and leachate treatment are about 20
€. The costs for leachate treatment (the demands
can only be fullfilled with reverse osmosis) are
estimated about 10-13 €/m3. Fig. 4 shows the
landfill and the transfer station in Bizerte.

Fig. 3: Location of waste treatment plants and

hazardous waste storages and –centres in
Tunisia

Landfill site Transfer station

Fig. 4: Landfill site and transfer station in Bizerte

5
German and international waste management companies should be considered for the operation
of treatment plants. German waste management companies will not have any problems with
communication since a lot of ALUMNI „former graduates of German universities“are on hand. The
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports these activities for several years now in
cooperation with University Rostock and the FH Lippe und Höxter.

A plant for the substantial scrap tire treatment in Sfax is authorised and soon be realised. The
thermal utilisation/ disposal of substitute fules in cement industry (especially scrap tires) is very
effective at the moment. In the field of the treatment and composting of domestic waste two pro-
jects were realised in Beja und Korba. They were partly financed by the German institutions GTZ
and DEG. The project in Korba was realised by the company Grüschow Entsorgungs- und Um-
welttechnik. The chair of Waste and Stoffstrom Management of the University Rostock was re-
sponsible for the scientific assistance. A following paragraph describes part of the achieved out-
comes.

Advantages:
• laws, assistance and investments in the field of waste management,
• provision of necessary finances,
• standardised landfills exist, a waste agency is established,
• Tunisia is the door opener for other Magreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, and Libya).

Weaknesses:
• no treatment of waste especially of organic material,
• no practical experience in operating landfills, expensive and valuable landfills are overfilled
with waste,
• lack of trained personnel,
• despite the need for compost there is not a single treatment plant.

2.4 Egypt
Egypt is one of the most important and significant countries in the region having about 60 million
inhabitants. Through tourism and the considerable stable political situation the country has be-
come more relevant to the international community. Egypt is the first country that was interested
in a functioning waste management. Through local companies and with American assistance sort-
ing and composting plants were developed. About 50 plants were built and operated throughout
the country. Unfortunately all of them are closed today. Reasons are congestion of the plants,
faults in construction, liability, high costs of operating, missing maintenance, poor quality of
equipment, etc. All of these plants can be operated again within a short time with only a few modi-
fications. Several concepts were suggested without success. The reasons are mainly the missing
know-how and special knowledge of the persons in charge as well as other unknown reasons.
There is a strong demand for a proper waste management.

In 2000, the city Alexandria has initially privatized the entire waste management by an interna-
tional request of proposals through a strong political and communal support. The international
company ONIX got awarded the contract for 15 or 20 years.

In the following, the integration of the private industry for the collection and transport of waste was
also discussed in other cities. Calls for proposals and contracts were published and commis-
sioned for 3 years. The Egyptian-German Jointventure AGET has disposed waste in the historical
and tourist city Luxor since 2002. The German company is GRÜSCHOW Entsorgung- und Um-
welttechnik GmbH from Güstrow. In the past, Germany took actively part in logistics, disposal and
public relations through GTZ in the city Aswan.

6
At the moment, Germany runs projects in Qena and Kafer Al-Sheick through the developement
aid programmes for 3 years now. Studies and concepts has been developed and worked out. The
realisation and the potential operation are partly financed by Germany. Some engineering com-
panies are assigned. Last year, the World Bank provided the finance of the waste equipment
(container, vehicles, compost plants, etc.) in Kafer Al-Sheich.

The Italian company IMA in cooperation with local partners is established in the region of Kairo
(ca. 17 million inhab.) and disposes part of the city in the long run.

Advantages:
• the country recognised the problems and created special structures,
• logistics is partly organised in some of the cities,
• a lot of technology is produced locally,
• through the number of tourists tending upwards the pressure to establish a functioning
waste management increases.

Weaknesses:
• the processing, treatment and disposal is still problematic,
• lack of control of the realisation by the administration,
• lack of special know-how in the responsible agencies,
• lack of trained personnel for the operation,
• poorly paid workers.

2.5 Kuwait
The Gulf State with ca. 4 millions inhabitants created the frame conditions for the privatising of
waste management. Logistics is realised by local companies. Treatment and processing is still a
problem. The waste management agency grants licences for companies for the construction and
operating of waste treatment plants (3 enterprises per 1500 t/a) and is prepared to pay ca. 21 €/t.
The projects could not be realised so far, because professional know-how for the companies is
missing. In addition, provision-oriented consultants suggest the technology to be used. The idea
for a pilot or testing project is almost not realisable, because the agency or private companies are
only thinking of purchasing completed technologies from abroad. Several plants were bought and
closed after a certain period of time. /Fig. 5/.

Fig. 5: Closed waste treatment plant in Kuwait

The small country of Kuwait holds 17 huge old landfills and the government and the environ-
mental authority aim at a long-term solution of this problem. At the University of Rostock a doc-
toral thesis about „Treatment of old landfill sites in Kuwait“ is worked out. In this field, reseach is

7
done in degasification of disposals, geophysical exploration (fig. 6), qualities of leachate, etc. This
year, air ventilation tests are planned to aim at a stabilisation and a deconstruction of old landfills.

Fig. 6: Cut through a geophysical exploration for the old waste deposit „Jleep-Alshyokh“ landfill in
Kuwait City

The topic of construction waste is exercised successfully by the private industry in Kuwait. The
treatment of industrial waste especially from the petrochemistry has not been dissolved yet. A
doctoral thesis is on the run in cooperation with the research institute KISR in Kuwait.

The involvement of the German waste management in Kuwait is recommended. The situation and
frame conditions are still favourable at the moment.

2.6 Jordan
Jordan is a main focus in the field of waste management in the German and international coope-
ration. The current topics are seperated collection, treatment, recultivation of landfills, energy
supply contributes, environmentally friendly treatment of waste in agriculture such as chicken and
cow dung, etc.

A project to the topic old landfill degasification and gas utilisation was realised in the year 2000.
Part of the financial provision was done by the German development cooperation. The local pri-
vate industry carries out small duties in the field of collection and transport.

The GTZ in cooperation with the German company Firma Schramm Kommunalservice from
Rostock and the local company Al-Jaar Establishment for Environmental & Industrial Consulta-
tions finances a PPP-project for the composting of organic waste such as chicken and cow dung,
rests of plants. The project is assisted scientifically by the chair of waste and substance flow
management of the University Rostock.

The introduction of the separate collection is in discussion now and in Amman a pilot project in
cooperation with the environmental ministry is planned. The engineering company INFA from
Ahlen, the University of Rostock and further local partners are integrated in the planning, control-
ling, and training of personnel by a DEG-PPP-project.

8
Energy from waste is an economically interesting topic, because energy feed-in (EEG) and C02
certification trade are possible.

The involvement of the German waste management in Jordan is recommended. The situation and
frame conditions are still favourable at the moment.

2.7 Further Arabic States

United Arab Emirates (UAE): The situation of waste disposal is well-regulated because of the
existing frame conditions. Several international waste management enterprises as ONIX and
German engineering companies as Fichtner and Birkhan & Nolte are locally active. Many cities
have called for proposals for waste treatment plants and constructed them in the last few years. In
the city Sharja the first project for the removal of a landfill was realised by the company IUT from
Austria.

Qatar: About three years ago, Qatar called for proposals for the construction of waste treatment
plants (transfer stations, sorting plants, biogas extraction from organic fraction and the incinera-
tion of waste material) for about 1500 t/d on international level. A company from Italy got the con-
tract. The current situation of the realisation of the project is not known by the author.

Libya: Libya is currently an interesting market in the field of environment. The city Tripolis owns
an old sorting and composting plant. This plant is despite its weak construction and high energy
demand still operating. Treatment of old disposals is currently in discussion.

Iraq: Iraq defies the difficult frame conditions and is thinking about waste management. Many
cities called for proposals for the construction and erection of waste treatment plants and landfill
sites. The projects could not be realised, because the calls were not prepared by qualified engi-
neering companies. Last year, UNICEF tendered the master plan for the city Basra. German dis-
posal engineering companies can work very well through Jordan with the country Iraq. Almost all
Iraqi companies have an office in Amman to coordinate their projects.

3. Approaches to a solution

Approaches to a solution for the improvement of waste management in the Arabic countries are:

- laws, organisation, responsibility,

- introduction of waste fees and regulation of the finances,
- substance flow-oriented and economic waste management, separate collection by the
principle „wet-dry“,
- transfer stations and sorting plants for the regulation of utilisable and non-utilisable mate-
rial,
- realisation of pilot projects to gain practical experience,
- integration of the private industry out of financial and organisational aspects,
- construction and modification of utilisation plants,
- construction of a well-regulated landfill site,
- construction of hazardous waste treatment plants,
- utilisation of waste material from and in agriculture,
- training and further education

Relevant approaches to a solution are explained in the following:

9
• Substance flow-oriented and economically organisation of waste removal
The substance flow-oriented logistics of waste disposal is the first and most important technical
step in a disposal system. It influences further steps in preparation and treatment. This process is
long and needs a lot patience and experience in realisation. It still constitutes the basis for the
production of reusable material and for the organisation of recycling management.
For the Arabic countries „wet-dry“separate collection, deposit and refund systems are suggested.
The realisation can take place through pilot projects at the beginning. Aid organisations can be a
great help in this situation. The projects have to be complex, long-term and economically oriented.
The private industry is to be integrated to gain practical experience and to be prepared for self-
sufficiency.
The logistics of waste disposal requires good funding and comprehensive know-how and can only
be realised through the local private industry in cooperation with international waste management
enterprises. Pilot projects are planned in the city Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Amman (Jordan) at
the moment.

• Transfer station and sorting plant as substance flow regulation plant

The central point of a waste management system in the Arabic countries is the transfer station
with a sorting plant and potentially biological treatment. The advantages are the saving in collec-
tion and transport as well as the production of material that can be directly transported to the utili-
sation plants. Only the fractions for landfill are deposed without organic. A plant for sorting and
biological treatment can solve over 70% of the problem. The costs will be between 10-20 €/t, de-
pending on the dimension of the city. A lot of cities would like to hand these duties to the private
industry. But the lack of practical experiences on both sides is a problem. Pilot projects urgently
need to be realised in cooperation with the private sector for at least five years to gain reasonable
characteristics. They can be used as basis for the call for proposals.

About 50-60% of domestic waste in the Arabic countries are leftovers and organic. There is al-
most no functioning mechanical-biological waste treatment or composting, although the demand
for compost is very high. The reasons are:

- incorrect planning and lack of trained personnel for the operation of the plants,
- conception and planning of only great plants (ca. 500 t/d),
- logistics is not reconsidered in the planning,
- the necessary period of time (2-4 months) for the production of adequate compost is mostly
not reconsidered. Planning is carried out by personnel or sections that have no practical ex-
perience.

10
 Funktion der Umladestation zur „Umladung auf größere Fahrzeuge“
100 % Transport größerer Entfernung zur Behandlungs-
anlage. Ein großer Anteil wird deponiert

Umladestation Behandlungs-
Deponie
anlage

Transport größerer Entfernung und 100 % Deponierung

Funktion der Umladestation zur „Steuerung der Stoffströme“

Organische Kompostierungs-
Stoffe
anlage
Umladestation und
Behandlungsanlage
(Sortierung und evtl. Deponie
Kompostierung) Sortierreste zur Deponierung

Papier/Karton

Kunststoffe Recyclings-
Metalle wirtschaft

Fig. 7: Scheme of a regular and modern transfer station as location for the regulation of substance
flow

The company GRÜSCHOW Entsorgung und Umwelt GmbH realised a test project in the city
Korba following this principle. The finance was provided by the German Investment and Devel-
opment Company DEG. The University Rostock assisted scientifically.

The essential results are:

- ca. 68 % of the waste could be classified through drum filter,

- the fraction 0-40 mm contained only few trash material and xenobiotics (ca. 5 %),
- the fraction 40-80 mm contained ca. 88 % organic, ca. 11 % trash material and ca. 1 % utilis-
able material,
- the material for the manuel sorting is about 20-25 %. The composure exists of foil, packages,
textiles, etc.
- the amount of metals is about 06 %.

Subsequent to the classification and sorting the composting of the fractions 0-40 mm and 40-80
mm followed. The quality of the produced compost is shown in fig. 8.

11
 Waste compost Biowaste compost
(earlier) separate collection limits
LAGA Information Today biowaste
No. 08 Result of UBA/BGK
Korba/
20 t/h 30 t/h
Tunisia
Lead [mg/kg] 51,3 46,4 150 100 24,4
Cadmium [mg/kg] 5,5 0,47 1,5 1 <0,6
Chrome [mg/kg] 71,4 25,3 100 70 72,5
Copper [mg/kg] 274 57,7 100 70 64,25
Nickel [mg/kg] 44,9 16,3 50 35 7,51
Mercury [mg/kg] 0,16 1 0,7 0,07
Zinc [mg/kg] 1570 203 400 300 173

Fig. 8: Quality of the produced compost in the city Korba/Tunisia

Integration of the private industry from economical and organisational aspects

The private industry in the Arabic countries detected the sector of waste collection, of waste
transport and treatment and is prepared to invest in this branch. Responsible persons and deci-
sion makers would like to hand over their duty and responsibility to the private industry. Unfortu-
nately their financial capacities are low. A solution must be found, who is capable to construct and
operate the landfill site and secures the maintencance. Basic questions need to be discussed and
solved. In the cooperation with the private sector, administration systems need to define duties
and control the projects.

Modifikation and erection of recycling plants

Sorted waste fractions as glas, plastic, paper, paperboard, metals, etc. are on demand in the Ara-
bic countries and can therefore be easily sold. Partially, material is utilitsed in the country or is
exported, depending on the price situation. It is recommended to modify plants environmentally
compatible or to build new ones to benefit from the material.

Thermal utilisation plants

The thermal utilisation of high calorific value fractions from domestic waste is an important topic in
waste management. Waste material with a calorific value from 11 000 kJ/kg can be used ener-
getically by grate firing. Germany and Western Europe use cement works and power plants for
disposal. In Western Europe, special thermal utilisation plants are planned for the future, because
of the legitimate frame conditions.
It is not recommended to purchase established incineration plants in the Arabic countries. It is fact
that necessary finance is missing to purchase expensive plants. Thermal utilisation plants would
be much more favourable. For that purpose, existing cement works and power plants can be used
and modified for the disposal of high calorific value fractions. Aid organisations should consider
this situation for future aid development projects.

12
Erection of a well-regulated landfill site
The regulated landfill site is an important part of the waste management. It is an investment on
the long run and belongs to the basic structures of a society. The erection and operation of a con-
trolled landfill are absolutly necessary, especially when waste material can not be sorted and util-
ised. Despite sorting and utilisation plants about 20 bis 30% of waste need to be disposed. The
have to be landfilled without any organic material. Costs for the construction, operating and main-
tenance can therefore be minimised and the period of deposit could be prolonged. For the future,
it is expected that a lot of landfills need to be built in the developing countries. The German stan-
dardised landfill-sites are not fundable in these countries. Affordable basic criteria have to be pre-
pared for the Arabic countries. The topic is also important for aid development programmes. As
intermediate storage the „combustible landfill“ suggested. If a thermal utilisation plant will be con-
structed in the future, the intermediate storaged material can be used.

Education
The education of scientific institutions for the planning, construction, operating and control has to
be strengthened. To achieve results, functioning testing plants need to be built in practice. They
are necessary to gain practical know-how. Depending on the duty and responsibility, education
programmes need to be prepared. The social structures in schools, hospitals, industry and agru-
culture need professional educational programmes, too, to improve the cooperation.

The Arabic countries detected the great problem of waste management. Therefore numerable
fundable solutions are looked for now. The German know-how and the existing experiences in
this field can make a great contribution.

4. Abstract
Most governments in the Arab countries are facing waste management problems. In order to
overcome these problems, an initiative has to be taken towards integrating the local and interna-
tional private sectors. The collection and transportation tasks are to be realised through the mu-
nicipal and private organisations. The administrative authorities as well as the local private sectors
do not possess the necessary practical experience required for the implementation and realisation
of a sustainable waste management system. The needs for treatment, recycling and landfills of
solid waste are very large and do require urgently suitable solutions adaptable to local conditions.
Therefore, reformation of the local conditions and regulations in addition to investment in pilot
projects with the integration of international know-how can assist in establishing the way towards
a sustainable waste management system.

Bibliography:

A. Nassour (2005):
Ansätze zur Reform der Abfallwirtschaft in Entwicklungsländern, Lehrstuhl Abfall- und Stoffstrom-
wirtschaft, Universität Rostock, Habilitationsschrift.

U. Grüschow (2006):
Bericht PPP-Pilotprojekt in der Stadt Kurba in Tunesien.

M. Mahn (2006):
Integration der Abfalltrennung/Hausmülltrennung und Kompostierung in ein nachhaltiges Abfall-
wirtschaftssystem in Tunesien am Beispiel des Pilotprojekts in Korba, Lehrstuhl Abfall- und Stoff-
stromwirtschaft, Universität Rostock, Diplomarbeit.

H. Abdul Rida (2007):

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 Indikatoren für die Organisation der Verwaltung kommunaler Abfallwirtschaft in arabischen Län-
dern – Beispiel Libanon –, Fachgebiet Abfallwirtschaft, Tu Berlin, Doktorarbeit

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