Current State of Waste Management >>>

Under the leadership of Fraunhofer, WtERT Germany has brought its project of collection points in three cities in Tunisia to an initial conclusion.

10th international conference and exhibition on circular economy, MBT, MRF, recycling, urban mining and zero waste.

Courageous, persevering and full of joie de vivre

Statement by Mr. WERNER P. BAUER, Vice President GWC, and Executive Director of WtERT Germany regarding the inauguration of the pilot project Tri Selectif ′′Isle of Cleanliness ".

Progress Report of EGIDD project (Ensemble pour une Gestion Intégrée et Durable des Déchets - French, meaning “Together for Integrated and Sustainable Waste Management”)

The current situation of the organic solid waste in Tunisian cities drew attention to the need of an appropriate and updated waste management model allowing to overcome the environmental concerns. Indeed, the generation of solid waste (SW) is related to various features of urbanization and rapid growth of population rates.

As subcontractor from Fraunhofer Umsicht, WtERT Germany started the realization of the Tunisian waste management´s modernization as planned in 2018.

Despite the organic fraction representing 68% of the total waste gene- rated (2.8 million tons produced in 2017), only 1-2% of municipal waste is currently biologically treated in Tunisia.

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) reached currently 68% of the total waste generated in Tunisia. Thus, a biological treatment is needed. Composting is considered as an effective and sustainable technology from the perspectives of volume reduction, stabilization and releasing the pressure on landfills as well as making a valuable end-product.

This annual report summarizes WtERT-Germany's activities, like the outcome of the website's relaunch, our consultancy projects in Croatia and Tunisia as well as hosting/delegation of guests in 2018. In addition, it gives a glimpse of what we are about to do in 2019.

A tunisian delegation came to Munich during 26 ^th- 30 ^th of November 2018. They visited the technical site at municipal utilities, city of Rosenheim, as well as BSA GmbH to take a look at construction waste recycling, bio waste fermentation and recycling of electronic waste. To round off the program, a workshop with contributions from Tunisian and Bavarian experts took place.

In this project, which is being worked on by Fraunhofer Umsicht Sulzbach-Rosenberg with WtERT Germany and em & s, a recycling center is to be set up, among other things, in which various valuable waste materials, e.g. old electrical equipment can be registered.

The Department of Waste Management and Material Flow of the University of Rostock has been active in Arab countries for over 20 years, and has initiated, carried out and scientifically supervised numerous projects. Waste management and material flow is an important theme in the field of German development cooperation in the MENA regions and has gained in significance in recent years.

Solid waste management has emerged as a big challenge for the Mediterranean country of Tunisia. The country, having an estimated population of around 11 million people, produces more than 2.5 million tons of garbage each year. Tunisia is experiencing an average increase in waste volume by 3% with per capita waste generation in urban areas being 0.8 kg per day. Biodegradable organic fraction constitutes around 68% of the MSW stream.

The automobile supplier with its head office in Germany is continuing to grow in Tunisia and is creating jobs for highly-qualified engineers. The DRÄXLMAIER Group has been operating in Tunisia since 1974, which marked the beginning of the company's international growth. Today, the DRÄXLMAIER Group employs over 6,000 people at the sites in El Jem, Siliana, Sousse and Zaouiet Sousse.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a very challenging activity all over the world, especially with the rising world population, the growth in industrialisation and the expansion of urbanisation. Land scarcity and environmental and public health implications are raising serious concerns on the landfilling of solid waste as a disposal route. It is, therefore becoming exceedingly urgent, for the Arab region, to develop and implement disposal methods for MSW that is cost effective and environmentally sustainable.

The second edition: another year of success and participation

Tunisian waste is rich in organic and hence fairly wet. This causes technical Problems and adverse environmental effects when landfilled. But next to the formation of leachate and landfill gas also operation problems were observed especially at pit landfills because of unsufficient drainage of the leachate which resulted in situations that the whole waste is soaked with leachate and hence the mechanical stability is reduced. The main objective of the pilot test was to prove that the PMB is a feasible solution for the conditions in Tunisia and an adequate option to overcome some of the Problems mentioned above.

To date, Southern Mediterranean countries have hosted a limited number of projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. This study examines existing and emerging activities in Southern Mediterranean countries that could fit into new market-based mechanisms.

Almost in all Arab countries general waste management concepts are still in the initial stage. Partly suitable laws were passed and some administrative structures have been established, but technical implementation, management, monitoring and financing of appropriate waste management systems are still considered to be a major challenge.