Qatar Waste Management and Recycling Opportunities
The Ministry of Municipality is in the process of implementing its sustainable strategic plan for waste management and recycling, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, and in support of the Ministry’s Zero Waste campaign. The aim of the campaign is to develop a waste management system, raise community engagement and awareness to preserve the environment, and encourage investment in this area. Through the Zero Waste campaign and overarching national goals, the government of Qatar is trying to decrease the amount of waste that is produced by industry, commercial sites, and households, while at the same time increasing recycling and reuse of waste.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact:
Anissa Lahreche
Senior Commercial Specialist
Anissa.Lahreche@trade.gov
Background:
Qatar’s solid waste management market is expected to transform in the next five years. Municipal solid waste management is one of the most severe challenges faced by Qatar, primarily due to urbanization, industrial growth, and economic expansion. The country has one of the highest per capita waste generation rates in the world, as high as 2 kg per day on average.
Qatar Waste Categories
Qatar produces 1.3 million tons of household waste, all of which goes to landfills. [Note: this figure excludes chemical and hazardous waste.] In order from highest to lowest percentages, Qatar’s household waste breaks down to the following categories: organic, paper, plastic, metals, glass, and others.In addition to household waste, Qatar produces 4.5 million tons of construction and demolition waste, which is broken down by the following subcategories (in order of highest to lowest percentages): cement, block, sand, wood, steel, and other. Large waste products, such as trees, bulky household items, and heavy equipment, are estimated at 0.4 million tons. Other waste such as sludge, tires, and slaughterhouse/dead animals are estimated at 0.1 million tons.
Market Potential:
In Qatar, local municipalities are responsible for collecting solid waste. They carry out this responsibility by contracting out to private companies and working with entities with expertise in the waste management. Qatari municipalities are open to leveraging expertise and services offered by international companies, which are encouraged to participate in the market. There is an increased focus by the Qatari government to reduce more than 90 percent of the waste from landfills in the next five years.
To achieve its goal, the Ministry of Municipality has recently launched a conference that constitutes an important international platform to attract government and semi-government institutions, the private sector, and local businesses to learn and exchange ideas and knowledge about waste management treatment and recycling. The Ministry is showing great interest in reducing, eliminating, and efficiently managing and recycling local waste.
Next Steps for the U.S. Client
U.S. companies with products and services offering solutions to these waste management and recycling challenges should work with Senior Commercial Specialist, Anissa Lahreche (Anissa.Lahreche@trade.gov) at the U.S. Commercial Service in Qatar to explore matchmaking, market research, and other assistance that may prove beneficial.
Additionally, U.S. firms interested in expanding sales of innovative Waste Management technologies in Qatar should consider attending the Qatar International Recycling and Waste Management Summit, which takes place annually in Doha in June. Exact dates for June 2023 have not been announced yet. This engagement is the only event in Qatar where local and international professionals exchange expertise, discover trends and developments, and seize business opportunities in this sector. It is also an ideal platform for industry specialists to meet key Qatari decision makers, gain valuable insights, and hear first-hand about the technologies that Qatar is seeking for its waste management projects, including the opportunities that exist.