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The sixth Recycling Towards Sustainability Conference and Exhibition 2026 kicked off in Doha Tuesday.The two-day event is organised by the Ministry of Municipality, drawing broad participation from government and quasi-government entities, private-sector institutions, local and international companies, as well as leading experts, specialists, and decision-makers in recycling, sustainability, and the circular economy.The opening ceremony was attended by ministers, ministry undersecretaries, ambassadors, assistant undersecretaries, and senior officials, along with representatives of government entities and national institutions, as well as a wide range of experts, specialists, and partners from Qatar and abroad.In his opening remarks, His Excellency the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah said the conference and exhibition represent a national platform that brings together government entities, the private sector, academic and research institutions, and experts to share knowledge, showcase innovative solutions, and forge partnerships that support the future of recycling and sustainability in the State of Qatar.**media[500567]**These efforts, he underlined, will help advance the transition toward a circular economy and accelerate sustainable development.HE al-Attiyah highlighted that the State of Qatar has made a substantial leap forward in this sector, with 45% of municipal solid waste diverted from landfills during 2025, while the Waste Treatment Center generated more than 276,000 megawatt-hours of electricity.HE affirmed that the centre also processed more than 10,000 tonnes of scrap tires, produced more than 34,000 tonnes of compost, and sorted and recovered more than 37,000 tonnes of recyclable materials. Meanwhile, the production of recycled construction materials at Rawdat Rashed reached approximately 3.9mn tonnes during the same year.He highlighted the ministry's efforts to strengthen the role of the private sector and develop recycling industries, noting that the number of facilities designated for recycling industries in the Al Afja area increased to 61, including 29 operational facilities, 19 facilities under construction, and 13 facilities in the development phase.The investment opportunities offered by the Ministry during 2025 resulted in the selection of nine investors to establish new recycling facilities, the minister said, emphasising that this significantly strengthens private-sector participation and supports economic diversification in line with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3).HE al-Attiyah elaborated that the ministry is working to develop an integrated and sustainable waste management system based on the optimal use of resources, strengthening recycling, and deploying advanced technologies through the implementation of an array of strategic projects under the "Zero Waste” initiative.The minister further explained that, in parallel, the ministry is working to develop a national smart and integrated waste management system based on digital solutions and standardised databases.**media[500568]**This system will contribute to enhancing service efficiency and monitoring, strengthening data quality, supporting planning and decision-making, and achieving the highest levels of operational efficiency, he pointed out.Al-Attiyah said sustainability is no longer an additional option but has become a fundamental pillar of planning for the future and a key driver of economic efficiency, resource protection, and improved quality of life.He noted that a successful transition to a circular economy requires the coordinated efforts of government, the private sector, academic and research institutions, and the community, turning ideas into projects, technologies into applications, and partnerships into tangible results.The conference also featured the signing of lease agreements with four of the nine investors selected under the investment opportunities offered by the ministry to establish new projects in the recycling industries on land designated for this purpose. The agreements mark a significant step in the ministry's efforts to turn investment opportunities into tangible projects, strengthen private-sector participation, and expand the industrial base associated with recycling and the circular economy.The signing also marks the completion of procedures related to the investment opportunities offered by the ministry and supports the development of recycling industries and the attraction of new and specialised investment in the sector.These efforts include the construction of a new engineered sanitary landfill in Mesaieed, the rehabilitation of existing landfills, the establishment of a central materials sorting and recovery facility for recyclable materials, as well as the construction of an advanced waste-to-energy facility to generate electricity from municipal solid waste, HE al-Attiyah explained.The conference explores key challenges and opportunities related to recycling and sustainability, explores the future of the circular economy, examines the role of innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in developing sustainable solutions, and showcases best practices and experiences while highlighting opportunities for collaboration and investment.Alongside the conference, a specialised exhibition is being held featuring government entities, national institutions, local and global companies, and specialised manufacturing facilities.The exhibition showcases advanced technologies, products, services, and innovative solutions in the fields of recycling and sustainability, contributing to enhanced knowledge sharing, the development of partnerships, and the growth of industries associated with the circular economy.The organisation of this event is an outgrowth of the successes achieved by previous editions, which have contributed to strengthening its standing as a national and regional platform that brings together decision-makers, experts, the private sector, and specialised institutions.The conference and exhibition support dialogue, collaboration, innovation, and the development of partnerships in the fields of sustainability and the circular economy.The conference reflects the ministry's commitment to continuing to advance sustainable materials management, encouraging investment in recycling industries, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector and academic and research institutions, into line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and NDS3.These efforts contribute to building a more sustainable future for future generations. 

The Ministry of Municipality has intensified its efforts to spread public awareness on the “Zero Waste” campaign and enhance public engagement in waste sorting and recycling practices as part of the efforts to reduce waste and promote a culture of circular economy.However, a number of experts and activists in the field noted that the concerned entities should introduce some financial and regulatory incentives to further encourage households, businesses and industries to reduce waste and increase recycling.They suggested that such incentives could include grants for companies achieving high waste-reduction rates, simplified administrative procedures and preferential access to government programmes for businesses meeting zero-waste standards.They further recommended introducing a “Zero Waste Facility” certification to recognise institutions that demonstrate measurable progress in waste reduction, source segregation and recycling.Environmental expert Dr Yousef al-Kazem said that the initiative, launched by the ministry in 2022, helped promote environmental awareness and that it should evolve into a comprehensive institutional and community effort.He proposed expanding environmental competitions beyond schools to include categories such as “Best School”, “Best Home”, “Best Hotel”, “Best Restaurant”, “Best Factory” and “Best Company”.Such recognition, Dr al-Kazem said, could encourage positive competition and make sustainable practices part of everyday life.He stressed that zero waste should not be understood as the complete elimination of waste, but as reducing it to the lowest feasible level while maximising reuse, recycling and resource recovery.Hotels and restaurants could reduce food waste and separate organic refuse, Dr al-Kazem elaborated, while factories and offices could limit the use of paper, plastic and disposable products.Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari highlighted the importance of involving children and young people in building a lasting culture of sustainability.The environmental expert said that waste reduction and environmental protection should become daily habits rather than temporary awareness activities.Hamad Abdullah al-Attiyah, chairman of a wood recycling factory, said that wood recycling could make a significant contribution to the circular economy by diverting timber from landfills and converting it into useful products.He pointed to earlier Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) data indicating that construction waste accounted for around 80% of Qatar’s solid waste, underscoring the potential for recovering materials from the construction sector.Discarded wood, al-Attiyah said, could be processed into sawdust, wood chips, compressed briquettes and other productsRecycling, he added, reduces demand for virgin materials, lowers disposal costs and can create employment across collection, sorting, processing, manufacturing and distribution.Rashid Hamad al-Suwaidi, owner of a paper recycling factory, called for closer co-operation between the private sector, government institutions and the wider community.He said that recycling businesses face challenges including the availability of suitable land and the high cost of electricity, water and gas.Amer Abdelhamid Mustafa, executive director of a wood-recycling factory, provided a practical example of the sector’s capacity.He said that his facility processes approximately 600 tonnes of used wood monthly, producing items including compressed wood blocks, hexagonal charcoal and sawdust for use in farms, restaurants and other markets.The plant’s output, Mustafa added, reaches about 450 tonnes of finished products per month.Meanwhile, Dr Abdullah al-Khater said that recycling could reduce the country's reliance on imported raw materials such as aluminum and iron.Reusing domestic resources, the economic expert argued, could lower costs, strengthen supply security and retain more money within the national economy.Meanwhile, Qatar continues to develop its waste-management and circular-economy infrastructure.In 2023, the Ministry of Municipality reported that around 54% of household, commercial and industrial waste was being recycled or converted into energy or fertiliser.During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, authorities reported achieving 100% sorting and recycling of waste collected from stadiums and fan zones. 

Zero Waste campaign has progressed from an awareness initiative into a broader public effort to reduce waste, increase recycling and promote a circular economy.The campaign, launched by the Ministry of Municipality in February 2022, was designed to encourage community participation, responsible consumption and investment in recycling, while supporting the environmental and sustainable-development objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.Accordingly, the focus of the campaign is increasingly shifting from just raising public awareness to foster practical changes in the way waste is generated, collected, sorted and processed, in addition to expanding recycling infrastructure, using smart technologies and turning waste into energy and other useful resources.Qatar’s 2025 Voluntary National Review reported that the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre processes more than 2,300 tonnes of waste daily.In 2023, around 24,878 tonnes of municipal waste were recycled.In March 2026, the ministry renewed its call for residents to adopt waste separation, stressing that sorting at home can help reduce pollution and carbon dioxide (*CO2) emissions, protect natural resources and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.The ministry identified materials including plastics, paper, metals and organic waste as categories that can be separated at source.The programme has continued to expand geographically.In Al Rayyan Municipality alone, the number of blue recycling bins had reached 16,127 by June 2026, following the distribution of another 1,117 blue bins and an equal number of grey bins for organic waste.The phased rollout is intended to give households a practical mechanism for participating in the country's recycling system.Earlier, the ministry reported that around 11,000 recycling containers had been distributed in Doha, collecting around 2,183 tonnes of recyclable materials.A further 12,226 containers had been distributed in Al Rayyan and northern areas in cooperation with private-sector companies.In September 2025, the ministry announced a smart-container project, initially implemented in Al Wakrah, with plans for gradual expansion to other areas.Smart waste-management systems can improve collection efficiency by enabling authorities to monitor container status and optimise collection routes, potentially reducing unnecessary vehicle movements and operating costs.Similarly, the ministry reported that more than 835,000 tonnes of waste were processed at transfer stations during 2024.The resulting operations generated more than 40,000 megawatt-hours of energy, produced approximately 27,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser and recovered around 277,000 tonnes of recyclable materials.Further, the ministry reported that more than 28,000 tonnes of sorted materials were supplied free of charge to private-sector companies, while 51 plots of land were allocated in the Al Afjah area and 30 investment opportunities were launched to support recycling-related activities. 

GCC will need to invest an estimated $12bn to $25bn in recycling infrastructure by 2045 to position itself as a circular plastics hub, according to industry assessments.A new report from KAPSARC and Strategy& Middle East, part of the PwC network, finds that the Gulf Co-operation Council could play a critical role in closing the global gap in recycled plastics — with demand projected to outstrip supply by up to 35mn tonnes by 2030.Although demand for recycled plastics is rising by 8% annually — outpacing the 2% annual growth in virgin plastics — supply continues to lag behind.Despite growing momentum, less than 70% of global demand for recycled materials is being met. The shortfall is expected to reach 35mn tonnes by 2030.Today, GCC countries generate around 10mn tonnes of plastic waste annually but only 10% is recycled, reused or recovered. This ratio is on par with the global average, yet behind leaders like China and other OECD countries.In Saudi Arabia, the plastics and chemical sectors contribute 6%–9% of GDP, underscoring the region’s economic exposure to global shifts in plastics demand and the opportunity to lead in circularity.Devesh Katiyar, Partner, at Strategy& Middle East, said, “With global mechanical recycling still under 10% and pressure mounting from ESG mandates, carbon regulations, and shifting consumer preferences, there is a growing mismatch between supply and demand.“Unless addressed, this imbalance could delay climate progress and reinforce reliance on virgin plastics. The GCC is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap by leveraging its petrochemical strengths for circular solutions.”Globally, chemical recycling — especially pyrolysis — is gaining momentum, but its commercial viability depends on feedstock availability, energy prices, and plant efficiency.Modelling by KAPSARC and Strategy& shows that chemical recycling plants in the GCC that are embedded in petrochemical clusters can break even at plastic waste feedstock prices of $240 to $280 per metric tonne. Even at higher prices of $450 to $500 per tonne, profitability is still achievable, provided recycled plastics continue to command a market premium over virgin materials.Jayanth Mantri, Principal, at Strategy& Middle East, commented, “The economics of chemical recycling are compelling for the GCC, especially when integrated into existing systems and supported by the region’s competitive energy costs. Unlike traditional petrochemicals, chemical recycling is knowledge-intensive and offers potentially higher economic multipliers and innovation-driven growth.”Low-cost energy and existing infrastructure make the GCC well-positioned to lead. According to the report, success requires progress on three fronts: feedstock access, regulatory certainty, as well as innovation and consumer awareness.To ensure stable feedstock supply and global market access, the GCC must establish formal plastic waste trade corridors with Asia, Africa, and Europe.This includes upgrading ports, customs systems, and cross-border traceability infrastructure in line with international standards — securing inbound waste streams and enabling outbound exports of certified recycled resins.To reduce reliance on foreign policy shifts, the region must also accelerate domestic regulatory reform. Key priorities include extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, recycled content mandates, pricing reform for virgin polymers, and harmonised quality and safety standards across the GCC.Scaling circularity will also depend on investment in chemical recycling, smart sorting systems, and blockchain traceability tools. Government co-funding can support R&D in partnership with industry, while consumer incentives and awareness campaigns will help drive demand and improve waste segregation.The report also calls for blended financing to help build a modern circular plastics ecosystem, noting that GCC nations should leverage sovereign wealth funds, PPPs, and de-risking mechanisms to mobilise capital and attract global players.