The Ministry of Municipality has developed several integrated plans, laws and goals to safely dispose of all kinds of waste at all sites and benefit from them using the latest methods, through which the ministry accomplished major achievement, especially recycling all the waste generated during the activities of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by achieving a 100 per cent sorting and recycling, Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the third Recycling Towards Sustainability Conference & Exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Municipality on Tuesday, the minister said this was the first time in the history of the World Cup tournaments that such a percentage was achieved, as Qatar managed to achieve zero waste after turning all waste gathered from all stadiums and fan zones into recyclable materials or clean energy at the Domestic Solid Waste Management Center (DSWMC) in Mesaieed, which is the most significant centre in the country and the region in receiving waste and processing them.

The inauguration was attended by a number of ministers and ambassadors accredited to the country, as well as a group of local and international experts and specialists in the field of waste management, recycling and sustainability.

Subaie added that in 2022, more than 271 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and more than 35 tonnes of fertilisers were produced at DSWMC, as well as re-sorting more than 27,000 tonnes of recyclable materials.

The DSWMC in Mesaieed was awarded the GCC Prize in the field of municipal work in its fourth session in the category of best practices in waste management and recycling as a culmination of its pioneering role in waste treatment and recycling, he said. He pointed out that one of the ministry’s most significant achievements was the disposal of all the used tyres stockpiled in the country after developing a well-thought plan to safely dispose of discarded tyres and find solutions to recycle them in all its affiliated sites.

Around 180,000 tonnes of tyres were disposed of in cooperation with local private sector companies and tyre recycling factories in the Al Afja area for recycling industries, which have been allocated by the state due to the importance of these industries in achieving the goals of sustainable development, and within the framework of the state’s keenness to support and encourage partnership between the government and private sectors, the minister.

He noted that the Ministry of Municipality encourages various segments of society to reduce waste and raise their awareness through the ‘zero waste’ campaign launched to develop a methodology of thinking regarding the management of waste and its importance.

“The Ministry of Municipality continues its effective efforts to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030 in promoting sustainability and optimal use of resources through future projects, such as establishing an engineering landfill with the highest international standards and specifications, operating a station for sorting and recovering recyclable materials in Al Khor city, and finding the best solutions and methods for waste treatment and recycling,” he added.

He said the ministry also attaches great importance to afforestation projects and increasing green spaces, stressing that as at the end of 2022, the initiative to plant one million trees was completed in partnership and cooperation with various ministries, institutions, and civil society.

For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality Eng Ahmed Mohamed Al Sada said the annual organisation of the Recycling Towards Sustainability Conference & Exhibition comes in line with the strategic plan of the ministry, Qatar National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.

Sada pointed out that the conference aims to enhance sound waste management practices, promote a culture of waste reduction, present the latest technologies in this field, as well as shed light on the importance of academic research in developing recycling and waste treatment practices.

Director of Waste Recycling and Treatment Department at the Ministry of Municipality Hamad Jassim Al Bahar said the ministry’s keenness to organise the Recycling Towards Sustainability Conference & Exhibition confirms its commitment to promoting sound waste management practices.

Bahar expressed the ministry’s delight that the conference and exhibition is supported by several entities, including Expo 2023 Doha, Seashore Group for Recycling and Sustainability, Keppel Seghers, Shell Corporation and Suhail Industrial Holding Group.