The national initiatives to recycle electronic waste (e-waste) are set to explore further investment in recycled materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, creating new business opportunities that would safely utilise these otherwise hazardous waste streams.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that experts, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and officials stressed that this area is promising in the country. They also highlighted the need to promote local environmental well-being and to support initiatives for adopting more circular economy models.
The potential for more government-private sector co-operation in this field is great and could create more investment opportunities. They added that the “Al Wakra on the Path to Carbon Neutrality” initiative is a good example of such efforts. It is a strategic initiative by the Al Wakra Municipality to reduce carbon emissions through sustainable infrastructure, including greening mosques with renewable energy, recycling electronic waste, and conducting carbon footprint studies in partnership with Earthna.
Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari, environmental expert at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the need for safe collection and recycling processes of e-waste, including isolating e-waste from general waste streams and processing it at licensed facilities, where precious metals like gold and copper are extracted and toxic emissions minimised.
“The safe disposal of electronic devices is essential to protect both human health and the environment,” said Dr al-Kuwari.
He lauded Al Wakra’s initiative, “Al Wakra Free of Electronic Waste”, as a pioneering model that raises public awareness and encourages community participation.
Accordingly, he called for integrating environmental education into school curricula and promoting recycling competitions for students to cultivate a culture of sustainability from an early age.
Dr Saif bin Ali al-Hajri, UN Commissioner for Evangelising for the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, explained that worldwide e-waste production reached 62mn tonnes in 2022 and is expected to rise to 82mn tonnes by 2030.
On a per capita basis, individuals generate approximately 7kg of electronic waste annually. He noted that conventional disposal methods, including land-filling, incineration, or export to developing countries, have failed to address the environmental risks and often shift the burden elsewhere. He stressed that a conscious approach is needed: dismantling devices, safely removing toxic components, and reusing materials where possible. “E-waste is among the most dangerous types of waste, containing more than a thousand chemical compounds, solvents, heavy metals, and plastics,” he said.
Mohsen al-Sheikh, entrepreneur and senior environmental manager at Hamad International Airport (HIA), noted that discarded electronic devices contain valuable materials such as gold, copper, and lithium.
“One tonne of discarded smartphones may contain more gold than a tonne of natural ore,” he said. Besides, he noted recycling programmes can also refurbish computers for educational purposes or repurpose batteries for energy storage projects, reinforcing the circular economy and minimising environmental impacts.
In addition, he said digital tools and smart applications can further enhance community participation in e-waste management. Platforms that locate collection centres or provide home pickup services would be launched to improve efficiency while analytical tools should be used to measure the impact of recycling programmes in use. Al-Sheikh stressed that both institutions and individuals should play key roles in supporting collection, sorting, and safe disposal initiatives.
Meanwhile, Al Wakra Municipality has distributed dedicated e-waste collection containers in schools and public buildings.
Jaber Hassan al-Jaber, director general of Al Wakra Municipality, stressed that these containers complement the awareness campaigns aimed at raising responsibility and environmental consciousness the young poeple.
“The combination of public education and practical infrastructure is key to achieving long-term sustainability,” he noted.
Adopting a different approach, Abdulrahman al-Sunaidi, founder of a local Computer Museum, preserves old devices, demonstrating the concept of cultural recycling.
Through reusing and displaying outdated electronics, such projects reduce environmental risk while celebrating technological heritage. He encouraged universities and collectors to repurpose or properly dispose of devices, reinforcing the importance of environmental awareness.
Fahad Abdullah Malek, head of Public Relations at the Friends of the Environment Centre, highlighted the importance of youth camps and school workshops that educate students on e-waste hazards and proper disposal methods.
The centre is co-ordinating with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to develop a comprehensive national programme for collection, sorting, and sustainable recycling of electronic waste, aligning with Qatar’s carbon neutrality objectives and circular economy policies.However, the e-waste recycling sector is still a new area of investment and needs more projects and initiative to explore the already existing opportunities.
