Qatar deploys strategies to cope with huge amounts of waste

Qatar is counted among the world's fastest-growing economies, and, as a result of that, the Gulf nation has one of the highest waste-generation rates per capita in the world.

Solid waste management is one of the most serious challenges Qatar faces, especially with a high population growth rate, rapid urbanization and booming industrial growth.

Experts estimate the country’s per capita waste generation as high as nearly four pounds of trash per day. Added up, Qatar is currently producing more than 2.5 million tons of municipal solid waste each year.

Qatar is tackling the problem with a multi-pronged approach that includes building up infrastructure, finding alternatives to landfills and educating the population about the importance of recycling.

Better recycling facilities and participation will be a major factor as 40 percent of the stream of solid waste is made up of recyclables like glass, paper, metals and plastics.

Another part of the push to eliminate Qatar’s waste problem is the Waste Management & Recycling Summit set to kick off in Doha from Nov. 4 to 5.

This will be the second annual summit, which will take place at the InterContinental Doha the City hotel in Doha. The nation’s Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning and the Qatar Green Building Council are partnering to sponsor the event.

The summit will feature an expert panels and presentations from both local and international waste management experts.