In the midst of increasing attention to sustainability due to its importance in balancing economic growth and environmental conservation, Qatar has intensified its efforts in waste recycling. This reflects its commitment to environmental sustainability, which has been placed on its priority list and integrated into its Vision 2030 and development strategies.
This comes as Qatar prepares to host Expo 2023 Doha from Oct 2, 2023, to March 28, 2024. It is the first A1 event of its kind to take place in Qatar, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The expo aims to raise global awareness to promote long-term environmental change in attitudes and behaviours toward the environment, aligning with Qatar's National Vision 2030, where environmental management and sustainable development are top priorities.
Qatar's emphasis on promoting a culture of sustainability and environmental preservation is evident through its rigorous efforts in waste management and recycling.
Experts emphasise the importance of recycling in reducing natural resource consumption, carbon emissions, and biodiversity preservation. This contributes to mitigating negative climate impacts and achieving a balance between human needs and environmental preservation for future generations.
In this context, Director of the Waste Recycling and Treatment Department at the Ministry of Municipality Eng Hamad Jassim al-Bahr said in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that one of the most important ways to protect the environment is through recycling and sustainability. He highlighted that the Ministry of Municipality has made significant progress in waste recycling and utilisation.
Al-Bahr further explained that the Waste Recycling and Treatment Department oversees a solid waste treatment plant, associated transfer stations, and sanitary landfills, ensuring that waste is processed according to international standards and specifications. They have implemented necessary administrative plans to ensure public health and safety in the process.
He emphasized that recycling is a vital issue, and Qatar has facilitated it through various solutions and technologies that contribute to environmental preservation, pollution reduction, resource and energy conservation, consumption reduction, and improved production process efficiency.
Regarding Qatar's success in recycling all waste generated during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, achieving a 100% recycling rate was a significant milestone, marking the first time this rate was achieved in the history of previous World Cup events.
In showcasing Qatar's environmental sustainability efforts, al-Bahr highlighted the importance of the Mesaieed waste management facility, which commenced operations in 2011. This centre is one of the largest specialised waste management facilities in the Middle East, covering an area of 3 sq km with a daily capacity of 2,300 tonnes.
He outlined the five stages of waste treatment at the centre, starting with separation, recycling, incineration for energy production, and recycling to obtain high-quality organic fertiliser. The centre has successfully transformed waste into energy, producing approximately 269,000 megawatts of electrical energy in 2020, some of which is used for its own operations, and the rest is supplied to the government grid.
In line with Qatar's commitment to the highest environmental sustainability standards, they continuously monitor climate-related project activities. According to data from the Planning and Statistics Authority, the total number of new projects subject to environmental impact assessment increased from 2,428 projects in 2021 to 2,676 projects in 2022, reflecting a growing environmental focus alongside developmental progress.
These projects subjected to assessment in the past year included 572 large projects, 1,433 small and medium-sized projects, and 671 industrial projects. Data from the Planning and Statistics Authority indicate that 99.8% of treated wastewater in 2022 met environmental standards.
Treated wastewater was utilized for agricultural irrigation, with a total of 76.13mn cu m used annually. Additionally, 113.34mn cu m of treated wastewater were used for landscaping irrigation, while around 50.60mn cu m were injected into underground reservoirs annually.
Collecting and treating wastewater and having the necessary infrastructure for its treatment have environmental benefits, including reducing pollutants' transfer to groundwater, preserving biodiversity affected by wastewater pollutants, reducing nutrient runoff into coastal waters, and consequently lowering coastal water pollution.
Treated sewage water serves as an alternative water source, reducing pressure on water resources and enhancing their sustainability, particularly in countries facing water scarcity. This enables the reuse of high-quality water in agriculture, landscaping, or other applications.
Environmental statistics in Qatar indicate that the number of sewage treatment plants reached 27, with an annual growth rate of 3% from 2014 to 2020. These plants had a design capacity of 1022 cu m per day in 2020. Compared to previous years, the annual growth rate of the processing capacity of sewage treatment plants increased by 6% from 2014 to 2020. These plants received a total of 291mn cu m of sewage water per year, of which 285mn cu m were treated, constituting 98% of total sewage water in 2020.
In the same context, Ahmed Jasim al-Jolo, an environmental and sustainability expert, affirmed that Qatar has prioritised environmental and sustainability issues, incorporating them into Qatar's National Vision 2030 and its development strategies. He noted that waste management receives special attention due to the government's commitment to reducing the impact of waste on health and the country's aesthetics, while promoting waste reduction practices.
This is especially important given Qatar's economic growth across various sectors such as construction, industry, commerce, and agriculture. Al-Jolo, the environmental and sustainability expert, said in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that sustainability means preserving resource usage in a manner that ensures their availability for future generations. This includes utilizing renewable energy sources, reducing water and energy consumption, and improving energy efficiency in industrial processes. The focus on sustainability aims to strike a balance between human needs and environmental preservation.
He emphasized that companies have begun practical recycling of paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, and recyclable metals to achieve key benefits such as pollution reduction, increased recyclability, resource conservation, and cost reduction. Recycling plays a crucial role in environmental preservation, improving air and water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving biodiversity and wildlife, thereby enhancing the sustainability of ecological systems for future generations.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change recommended seven actions to contribute to environmental conservation, including: water and energy consumption reduction, reuse of bags and various materials, substitution of plastics with glass and recyclable materials, utilization of renewable energy sources to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, planting plants and trees in available areas, continuous volunteering in environmental activities, and testing environmentally friendly products when making purchases, while staying informed about environmental and climate-related matters.
The environment is a vital issue for the state's economic growth direction and perspective. Qatar's National Vision 2030 focuses on achieving true sustainability in the areas of environment, economy, and society. Within this context, the pillars of sustainability are part of the Expo 2023 Doha's theme, encompassing the following: Economic Pillar: Investing in innovative agricultural technologies, Social Pillar: Strengthening the connection between humans and nature to increase awareness, and Environmental Pillar: Transforming dry and barren lands into agricultural and forested areas.
