Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the State of Kuwait

Abstract

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) appears as a challenge for many countries in the world. The rapidly increasing amounts of waste and the consequent potential impacts necessitate proper planning and management. This paper assesses the management of the MSW in Kuwait using the driving forces-pressures-state-impacts-responses (DPSIR) framework. Applying the DPSIR method allows for understanding the causes behind the current state related to MSW along with the potential impacts and responses undertaken so far. The results of the analysis show that the generation of MSW is highly correlated with the population and economic growth in Kuwait. The per capita MSW is relatively high reaching 1.6 kg/capita/year. There are several potential impacts associated with the current practices of MSWM in Kuwait. Yet, only few of them have been assessed. Kuwait has enacted the Environmental Protection Law No. 42 in 2014 where the management of the MSW is emphasized. This paper recommends the calculation of a number of waste-related performance indicators. It also recommends the conduct of a social survey for a better understanding of the consumption patterns and variations associated with the different population groups and seasons. Finally, the initiation of a regional waste-related network is highly recommended to foster collaboration and share best practices with other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Key Points and Best Practices for Successful Municipal Solid Waste Incineration

“…This whole process is supervised round the clock from the main control room with the help of live video feeds from the entire plants [9]. Different countries have different methods of transporting and managing their waste such as [13,14], but this paper specifically looks into Japan.…”

Mitigation of CO2e Emissions from the Municipal Solid Waste Sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain

“…• Although the national waste strategy suggests that Estidama is responsible for data collection, it is imperative to provide data and indicators related to waste in Bahrain. Such data are not only missing in Bahrain but also in some other countries in the GCC [40]; • Set targets for waste recycling and WtE and ensure collaboration with stakeholders; • Ensure consistency in waste-relevant policies among different stakeholders; • Encourage the reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste before disposal, which contributes to climate change mitigation; • Emphasize the need to adopt a participatory approach to waste management in Bahrain.…”

“…Several methods have been used in the assessments of the waste management practices in GCC countries. A lifecycle assessment [39] and a driver-pressure-state-impact-response framework [40] have been used in Kuwait, a multicriteria analysis (MCA) has been used in Oman [38], and WtE technologies have been assessed in Saudi Arabia [41,42]. Anaerobic digestion (AD) was found to be the most suitable option for Saudi Arabia because of the large contribution of organic material to MSW in Saudi Arabia [43].…”

Rotary Drum Composting of Organic School Wastes and Compost Valorization

“…Almost all other waste (88%) is either landfilled or used for backfilling and landfill construction [2]. Despite several awareness campaigns conducted by the Kuwait Environment Public Authority to raise the public awareness towards waste sorting and recycling [3], the recycled amounts of household wastes in Kuwait are very low due to the reasons that the waste is often not separated at its source and that the recycling facilities cannot compete with the low costs for disposal at landfills [2].…”