Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre in Mesaieed plays pivotal role in preserving environment

Qatar Tribune

2 days ago

DOHA: Amid the increasing environmental challenges facing the region and the world, most notably waste accumulation
and natural resource depletion, recycling initiatives emerge as a strategic solution to promote sustainability and protect the Earth.
In this context, the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) in Mesaieedis considered one of the main pillars working to turn challenges into opportunities by adopting advanced technologies to treat waste and transform it from an environmental burden into valuable resources that contribute to building an innovative circular economy.
The centre plays a pivotal role in preserving the environment, starting with efficient waste sorting processes, through converting thousands of tons of organic materials, plastics, and metals into reusable materials, and ultimately contributing to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 in the field of sustainable development.
The centre began operations in 2011 and is being handled by Singaporean firm
Keppel Seghersunder a 20-year contract. DSWMCis the first and largest wastemanagement facility in the Middle East.
The centre has gone through several phases, starting with the establishment and planning phase, which relied on precise environmental and engineering studies, followed by the construction phase from 2006 to 2010 in Mesaieedas a strategic project. It comprisesstate-of-the-art waste sorting and management machinery, in addition to safe incinerators for energy production from waste and a compostingproduction unit.
The centre then moved to the trial operation phase, which was the result of great efforts in successful planning and a clear vision implemented perfectly, followed by continuous operation and maintenance. It currently receives waste daily for recycling and achieving the state's sustainability goals.
The DSWMC in Mesaieedreceives 2,200 tonnes of per day and is designed exclusively for the disposal of non-hazardous domestic solid waste. It also disposes of dead animals, green waste, and slaughterhouse wastes.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of Waste Recycling and Treatment Department at the Ministry of Municipality Eng Hamad Jassim Al Bahr said that one of the key objectives of DSWMC is to provide environmental solutions that ensure sustainability, recover recyclable materials, and generate electricity—aiming for an integrated approach to achieving the goals of Qatar's Third National Development Strategy.
He added that the centre was established in the MesaieedIndustrial Area as a comprehensive waste-to-energy project, reflecting the country's commitment to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on improving quality of life and ensuring resource sustainability.
The centre includes several facilities, such as units for producing organic and green compost, a waste-to-energy conversion unit that powers the centre, and an engineered landfill where ash from incineration is safely disposed using environmentally friendly methods. It also features a sorting unit for recyclable materials.
Regarding the centre's contribution to national goals, Eng Al Bahr explained that its primary role lies in promoting environmental sustainability, as it processes waste in a manner that reduces reliance on traditional landfills and improves natural resource management.
He also emphasised DSWMC's crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint. By converting waste into energy, the facility minimizes greenhouse gas emissions associated with uncontrolled burning or improper landfilling, he added.
The centre plays a pivotal role in reducing dependence on conventional landfills and processes thousands of tons of waste daily using safe and sustainable methods, he said, pointing out that some of the waste is sorted and sent to recycling factories, while the rest is converted into electricity that powers the national grid. The facility also practices energy conservation by operating on self-generated power from recycling operations, he noted.
Eng Al Bahr underlined the centre's significant contribution to supporting the circular economy, saying that by reusing resources and minimizing waste, DSWMC helps build a more sustainable economy, as sorted materials such as plastics and metals are distributed free of charge to recycling factories as part of an initiative to support the circular economy in the country.
He also noted that since operations began in 2011, the centre has addressed a critical issue in the country, which is domestic waste, which was previously only landfilled.
Eng Al Bahr added that amid the state's rapid urban and economic development—especially over the past decade in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022—the centre successfully kept pace through flexible, pre-planned strategies to handle domestic solid waste resulting from increased activity, population growth, and the influx of visitors during major events.
He confirmed that the centre achieved major milestones, most notably Zero Waste to Landfill for all waste generated from stadiums and associated facilities during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022—an unprecedented achievement for sporting events of this scale. This outcome was made possible by advance preparations during the Arab Cup 2020.
The centre also took proactive steps before the country's hosting of major sporting events to establish new standards for sustainable waste management, particularly for events hosted in recent years, including the Arab Cup 2020, FIFA World Cup 2022, and AFC Asian Cup 2023, he said.
Eng Al Bahr said that a dedicated strategy was developed to manage waste from stadiums and event facilities, focusing on two key goals: diverting waste from landfills to the treatment centre and maximizing the rate of material recycling.
In addition, the centre receives household waste daily from across the country for processing, transforming waste into added value rather than viewing it as an environmental or economic burden.
Through its compost production, the centre also contributes to Qatar's agricultural development, with compost used in agriculture, public parks, road landscaping, beautification projects, and distributed free of charge to citizens.
He further described the operational mechanisms of the centre, which begins with receiving domestic waste from four transfer stations managed by the Ministry's Waste Recycling and Treatment Department (collected by the Public Hygiene Department).
This process covers all domestic waste generated across Qatar. The waste is compacted and loaded onto trucks (25-ton capacity), weighed, logged, and then transported to the Mesaieed Management centre, he said, adding that since its inception, the centre has received approximately 9 million tonnes of waste.
The centre produces green and organic
compost, up to 40 tonnes/day, compost from domestic waste, up to 170 tonnes/day, and electricity, up to 48.8 megawatts/day, which is exported to the national grid.
It also generates biogas (methane), which is used for electricity production, and recovers recyclable materials such as plastics, ferrous metals, and non-ferrous metals.
About the Ministry's future plans to expand the centre's operations, EngAl Bahr explained that the facility is designed to accept non-hazardous domestic solid waste, along with green waste (converted to compost) and dead animals, which were recently added.
These are the types of waste the centre receives, consistent with its operational nature and the type of technology used, he said, adding that plans are underway to expand the centre's capacity to handle between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes per day.
In this regard, Director of Waste Recycling and Treatment Department at the Ministry of Municipality affirmed the Ministry's ongoing efforts to collaborate with the private sector to develop the country's waste management system.
Beyond its operational role in supporting sustainability and environmental protection, the Mesaieed Waste Management Centre also plays an important educational role—promoting the culture of the circular economy and helping preserve the country's resources for future generations.
The centre also stands as evidence that waste is no longer a burden, but a real opportunity to shape a greener and more environmentally conscious future.