Rapidly rising waste generation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is posing mounting risks to public health, the environment and economic activity, and will require a sharp increase in investment to manage sustainably, the World Bank said in a report published on January 26.
The report, Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa, draws on data from 19 countries and 26 cities, representing nearly 6% of the world’s population. It warns that without urgent reforms, waste volumes in the region could almost double by 2050, deepening pollution and economic losses.
According to the World Bank, residents of the MENA region generate an average of 0.81 kilograms of waste per person per day significantly higher than levels in Sub-Saharan Africa (0.46 kg) and South Asia (0.52 kg). Total annual waste generation in the region is estimated at about 155 million tonnes, with Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco accounting for the largest shares.
While waste collection rates are relatively high, averaging close to 80%, the report finds that around 67% of total waste is poorly managed. This includes waste that is left uncollected, dumped in open areas, burned, or disposed of in sites that are not properly monitored roughly twice the global average of mismanaged waste.
The consequences are significant. The World Bank estimates that mismanaged waste causes around $7.2 billion in environmental damage each year through air, soil and water pollution. Waste accumulation also undermines tourism, particularly in coastal areas, as polluted beaches deter visitors and reduce tourism revenues.
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Plastic pollution is a growing concern. The report notes that the Mediterranean Sea is among the most plastic-polluted bodies of water in the world, and that the MENA region has the highest per-capita footprint of plastics entering marine environments globally.
Looking ahead, the outlook is increasingly challenging. Driven by population growth, rapid urbanisation and rising incomes, waste generation in the region could reach 294 million tonnes by 2050. Without policy changes, the World Bank warns, environmental damage and public health risks will intensify, while the cost of inaction will continue to rise.
The report identifies waste reduction as the most cost-effective first step. A 1 percent reduction in waste volumes could save up to $150 million per year across the region, particularly through efforts to reduce food waste and curb the use of single-use plastics.
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At the same time, the World Bank estimates that annual spending on waste management will need to increase sharply—from about $7.7 billion today to $23 billion by 2050—to build adequate collection, treatment and disposal systems. This transition will require a shift toward circular economy practices, including reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery.
The authors estimate that around 83% of collected waste in the MENA region could be diverted from landfills through such approaches. Recycling rates of between 5% and 10%, and in some cases up to 20%, are achievable even with limited incentives, particularly by integrating informal waste pickers into formal systems. With targeted investments and improvements to existing infrastructure, recycling rates of up to 30% could be reached at relatively low cost, the report said.
The World Bank also highlights the need for greater private-sector participation, both in terms of technical expertise and financing, while recognising the critical role already played by the informal sector in waste collection and recycling across many MENA countries.
“There is no simple, universal solution,” the report concludes. “Financially affordable waste management requires making waste everybody’s problem. Citizens, local authorities, national governments and the private sector are all part of the solution.”
The findings underscore the scale of the challenge facing MENA governments as they seek to balance rapid development with environmental sustainability, amid growing pressure on natural resources and public services.
