Improving waste management and circular economy

Project description

Title: Waste management and circular economy - PRoDEC 
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Algeria
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Water Resources and the Environment (MREE), National Agency for Waste (AND) 
Overall term: 2014 to 2019

Context

In many of Algeria’s towns and municipalities the mountains of waste are growing, causing considerable discontent among the people. In an effort to tackle the waste problem, the Algerian Government attaches great importance to waste management and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In recent years the public sector in Algeria has invested significantly in promoting waste management. However, municipalities often lack efficient structures for the collection and transport of waste, and street cleaning. Raising public awareness of environmental protection and waste disposal is also an important issue, although the relevant waste management authorities and companies lack staff, expertise and efficient organisation.

Objective

Waste disposal services in the towns and municipalities are more reliable. The project contributes to an integrated waste management system at local, regional and national level. 

Approach

The project improves the waste management services, supports the development of a circular economy and provides various partners with strategic, legal and technical advice. The project’s priority areas include:

  • the monitoring and support of a waste management centre as a model for the training of stakeholders in waste management in other regions;
  • the development of a knowledge management system to disseminate innovative approaches and experience in the field of waste management;
  • the establishment of new instruments for policy governance in the waste sector;
  • the reorganisation of AND;
  • the improved audit of landfill sites by AND.

Results

Since the start of the project, the following results have been achieved:

  • local decision-makers have a greater understanding of integrated household waste management;
  • administrative bodies are better able to ensure efficient waste management and landfill site managers now have a better overview of how they need to economise their holding capacity;
  • Algeria’s environmental law has been analysed with regard to the introduction of new policy governance instruments;
  • AND has been advised on organisational issues;
  • events have been organised for the exchange of knowledge.

Additional information