Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste
Management (MSWM) in Kuwait
Submitted By ٍ
Sadeq H. Muqeem
Arabian Gulf University
College of Graduate Studies
Environmental Management Program
Supervised By
Dr. Lamya F. Mohammed
Contents
Presentation Outline
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Results of Analysis
4.1 Results of DPSIR Analysis
4.2 Results of General Data Analysis
5. Findings and Recommendations
Introduction
Preface
Due to:

The continuous increase in population,

Urbanization, and

Socio-economic factors (lifestyle and unsustainable
pattern of consumption),
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) quantities
has been increasing and its composition
changing
Introduction
Study material (MSW)
Types
 MSW consists of household solid waste
including construction and demolition debris,
slaughterhouses’ wastes, sanitation residue, and
waste from streets
Sources
 Mainly from residential areas, and
 Non hazardous solid waste that is generated
from commercial complexes, and industrial
sectors.
Introduction
Problem Definition
The continuous increase in MSW that followed by:



The increase in SWM services cost.
Negative landfills impacts.
Challenges in land scarcity.
Introduction
Study Significant

Provide insights on effective options for the MSW, and
boundary the targeted challenges to avoid the
escalation of the solid waste problem in Kuwait.

Prioritize the main MSWM gaps in Kuwait for future
effective management.

Increase workforce and public awareness on handling
the different types of MSW.

Provide a baseline for futuristic studies regarding solid
waste in Kuwait.
Introduction
Study Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review the general MSW issues in Kuwait.
Understand the key MSWM stakeholders and
their roles.
Document the current MSWM practices in
Kuwait.
Analyze the current MSWM situation in Kuwait
to identify any gaps and highlight the negative
and positive conducts.
Provide recommendation
Literature Review
Literature Review
A. Solid Waste Management and Recycling Practices
1.
Definitions and Types of Solid Waste
2.
General Solid Waste Management Issues (Barlaz and others, 2003),
(Shehata and others, 2004)
3.
Legislation Related to Waste Management (Skumatz, 2002)
4.
Recycling Technologies (2004 ،‫)الهاجري‬
5.
Solid Waste Recycling Practices in GCC Countries (1998 ،‫)أبوعشي‬,
(Alhumoud, 2005)
B. Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in Kuwait
1.
General Management Issues (1995 ،‫)بلدية الكويت‬, (1998 ،‫)العازمي‬,
(2000 ،‫)بلدية الكويت‬
2.
Landfill Management and Rehabilitation (EPA, 2005), (2005 ،‫)الفرج‬
Methodology
Methodology
Data Collection (descriptive overview)
1. Literature Review.
2. Official environmental documents regarding
municipal and/or household solid waste issued
by governmental and related institutions in
Kuwait.
3. Field visits and Interviews.
Analysis (analytical approach)
1. Driving Forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, and
Responses (DPSIR)
2. General Data Analysis
Methodology
DPSIR Framework
Source: Http://reports.eea.europa.eu, and (Arendse and Godfrey, 2001)
Results of Analysis
Results of DPSIR Analysis
Driving Forces

Average Population Growth Rate (2.8%) from
1.85 millions (1997) to 2.45 (2005)

Demand on land for housing

Lack of awareness (workforce and Public)

Socioeconomics (lifestyle and consumption
pattern, family size and income)
Driving Forces
Changing in Household Solid Waste
Composition
Glass
5%
Metals
5%
Other
7%
Plastics
13%
Food &
Vegetables
52%
Paper
18%
Source: 1995 ،‫بلدية الكويت‬
Driving Forces
Family Income Vs Quantity of Solid Waste in Kuwait
15
Ab
00
ov
e
15
00
0
0-
0-
90
0
70
0-
70
0
50
030
90
Le
ss
th
an
30
50
0
Quantity of Solid
Waste (Kgm / Day)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Family Income (K.D/Month)
Source: Koushki and Al-Khaleefi, 1998
Driving Forces
Family Size Vs Quantity of Solid Waste in Kuwait
Quantity of Solid
Waste (Kgm / Day)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3 to 5 6 to 8 9 to 11 Above
11
Family Members
Source: Koushki and Al-Khaleefi, 1998
Results of Analysis
Results of DPSIR Analysis
Pressures

Increase in MSW

Lack of effective SWM (still most of MSW is land filled).
There no regulatory requirements for any of the 3R’s
practices in Kuwait.

Lack of landfill design and operation (criteria, landfill site
lifespan, data collection system, ..,etc). There is no
enforcement for the available landfill regulations.

Increase in required areas for housing
State of Environment
The Increase Rate of Total MSW in Kuwait from 1999 to 2005
8000000
6000000
Tons
4000000
2000000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Year
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Household SW
910,3 852,9 1,006, 1,059, 976,1 1,107, 1,113,
Total MSW
3,973, 4,983, 5,274, 6,050, 5,072, 5,247, 5,779,
Source: Kuwait Municipality, Landfill Sites Management Department
State of Environment
The Increase Rate of Household SW in Kuwait
from 1995 to 2005
Household SW in Tons
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Year
Source: Kuwait Municipality, Landfill Sites Management Department
Pressures
Improper Land Filling Operation
Source: Researcher, 2006
Pressure / State of Environment
The Main MSW Landfill Sites in Kuwait
Landfill Site
Type of Waste
Area
Km2
Status
Period
Al-Gurain
Household
0.7
Closed
Closed 1984
Jelieb Al-Sheukh
Household + Constructional Debris
5.49
Closed
1970 - 1992
Subhan
Constructional Debris
0.49
Closed
1980 - 1986
Failaka
Household + Constructional Debris
-
Open
-
Sulaibiyah
Household + Constructional Debris
+ Wastewater
2.7
Closed
1982 - 2005
Al-Maseela
Household+ Constructional Debris
1.79
Closed
1984 - 1992
Mena'a Abdu'ALLAH
Household + Constructional Debris
+ Wastewater
1.14
Open
Since 1991
Southern 7th Ring Road
Household
4.2
Open
Since 1992
Northern 7th Ring Road
Constructional Debris (Closed in 2005) + Wastewater
(Open)
4.8
-
Since 1986
Kabd
Poultry + Cattle wastes ( Partially Open)
0.37
Closed
1999 - 2001
Al-Jahra
Constructional Debris + Wastewater
1.72
Open
Since 1986
Al-Wafra
Household + Constructional Debris
-
Closed
-
Al-Ogaila
Household + Constructional Debris
0.11
Closed
-
Al-Yarmouk
Constructional Debris
0.5
Closed
-
Al-Shuaibah
Constructional Debris
-
Closed
1986 - 1992
Eastern Sulaibiyah
Constructional Debris
0.17
Closed
Closed 1987
Source: Kuwait Municipality, Landfill Sites Management Department
Results of Analysis
Results of DPSIR Analysis
State or State of Environment (SoE)

MSW Generation (the Average Rate for the Total
MSW for last five years was 5 millions of tons /
year, and Per Capita household is 1.4 Kg / day)

Increase in required areas for land filling
(current estimation for exploited area for land
filling is about 25 square Km)

Landfill sites proximity to residential areas
State of Environment
Average per Capita Household/MSW (Kg / Day) in GCC and
Some Arabian Countries
Country
Per Capita Household Solid Waste (Kg / Day)
Kuwait
1.4
Saudi Arabia
1.4
Qatar
1.3
UAE
1.2
Bahrain
1.3
Oman
0.7
Average
1.2
Country
Per Capita Household Solid Waste (Kg / Day)
Egypt
0.81
Syria
0.33
Tunis
0.41
Morocco
0.33
Jordan
0.6
Yemen
0.6
Average
0.5
Source: 2005 ،‫الفرج‬
Pressure / State of Environment
Main MSW Landfill Sites Location Spotted on Kuwait Map
Source: www.greenline.com.kw
Results of Analysis
Results of DPSIR Analysis
Impacts

Effects on health & Env. (Undesirable odors, waste self-burning, insects,
rodents, strayed dogs, .. , etc)



Increase in SWM services cost
From 17 millions KD (1995) to 20 millions KD (2000)
Total cost of collection & transportation from 2002 to 2005 was 34.6
millions KD
Cost of the current three years contract of 1.24 million KD for only land
filling operations by a monthly billing payment of 34.500 KD


Challenges in land scarcity issue
(167,000 square meters used for land filling back in 1997 = a residential
area of more than 200 houses of 400 square meters each)

Increase in Landfill Gases (LFG) CH4, CO2, NOx, H2S, Dioxin, ..
Impacts
The Total Annual Gaseous Emission from Household Solid
Waste Imported to Landfills in Kuwait (1994 - 2003)
Year
Household Solid Waste (Ton)
Annual Gaseous Emissions / M3
1994
895,125
116,366,250
1995
715,750
93,047,500
1996
501,325
65,172,250
1997
746,585
97,056,050
1998
802,500
104,325,000
1999
910,320
118,341,600
2000
852,995
110,889,350
2001
1,006,135
130,797,550
2002
1,059,880
137,784,400
2003
976,185
126,904,050
Source: 2005 ،‫الفرج‬
Results of Analysis
Results of DPSIR Analysis
Responses






Collection & Transportation Services are highly
efficient
Land filling most of generated MSW
Small-scaled recycling practices
Environmental Preservation Industrial Co. (EPIC)
for construction waste and demolition debris
Closed Landfill sites rehabilitation (reactive
response)
Policies + new programs and/or strategies (still
not enforced)
Responses
Solid Waste Recycling Practices in Kuwait
Enterprise
Activity
Recycling Capacity (Tons)
Scale
Status
Gulf Co. (Paper)
Paper
3000
Large
Licensed
Aluminum
4
Iron
20
Med.
Licensed
Paper
400
Paper
1500
Med.
Licensed
Aluminum
2
Iron
10
Small
Not-Licensed
Paper
450
Aluminum
20
Med.
Licensed
Iron
40
Iron
450
Large
Licensed
Aluminum
5
Small
Not-Licensed
Iron
18
Aluminum
3
Small
Not-Licensed
Iron
23
Aluminum
7
Small
Not-Licensed
Iron
10
Gulf Co. (Glass)
Glass
2000
Large
Licensed
Al-Arabiyah (Metals)
Aluminum
400
Large
Licensed
Kuwait Aluminum
Aluminum
600
Large
Licensed
Al-Arfaj
AL-Wataniyah (Paper)
Anwar Al-Funaitees
Al-Wataniyah (Metals)
Al-Sakb
Abbas Mohammed
Mohammed and Nasari
Merza and Sardar
Source: 2004 ،‫الهاجري‬
Responses
Percentage of Wastes Recycled in Kuwait
Waste
Recycled
Annual Waste
Quantity in Tons
Annual Recycled
Quantity in Tons
Recycled
Percentage
Paper
186,000
115,000
85%
Aluminum
400 - 600
-
-
Glass
30,000
600 - 1800
5 – 15%
Plastics
-
-
-
Source: 2004 ،‫الهاجري‬
Responses
Reactive Response
Landfill Rehabilitation



Degassing the site and leachate collection for most closed
landfills
Self-Producing electricity for the surrounding area for couples of
landfills
The free electricity would also pump water which will be used to
help transform the area into green parks for public recreation
Bio- Gas Transformer Technology (Researcher, 2006)
Responses
Reactive Response
Example on Landfill Rehabilitation
AlGurain Rehabilitated Landfill Site (Researcher, 2006)
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
MSW Stakeholders and their role in MSWM in Kuwait
Stakeholder
Role
Government
(Council of Ministries)
Environmental Laws and Policies (Divide Responsibilities)
Law 21/1995 amended by law 16/1996
Kuwait Municipality
Regulations, Guidelines, and supervision
Kuwait EPA
Landfill Sites Monitoring and Rehabilitation
Public
Waste Generation and unofficial sorting
Waste Transporters
Collection and Transportation
Small-Scaled Firms
Segregation , Recycling, and Reuse
Landfill Contractors
Disposal activities, Landfill Site Operation, and
Maintenances
Environmental Preservation
Industrial Company (EPIC)
Large-scaled Construction Wastes and Demolition Debris
Recycling Facility
Source: Submitted by the researcher
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
Types of Total MSW in Kuwait
Household SW
19%
Construction
Debris
76%
Large Waste
5%
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
Per Capita Household SW (Kg / day)
Per Capita Household Solid Waste In Kuwait
(1995 – 2005)
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Results of Analysis
HSW Increasing Rate to
Population Growth Rate
General Data Analysis
HSW Increasing Rate to Population
Growth Rate
15
10
5
0
-5
19951996
19961997
19971998
19981999
19992000
20002001
Year
20012002
20022003
20032004
20042005
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
Per Capita MSW (Kg / Day)
Per Capita MSW In Kuwait (1999 – 2005)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
MSW Increasing Rate to Population
Growth Rate
MSW Increasing Rate to
Population Growth Rate
6
4
2
0
-2
1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005
-4
-6
-8
Year
Results of Analysis
General Data Analysis
Inverted Waste Pyramid
Source: http://www.gdrc.org
Findings and Recommendations
Findings

The only applied study conducted regarding the
actual composition and quantities of the daily
household solid waste in Kuwait was done by
Kuwait Municipality in 1995.

Deficiency in solid waste data collection in
Kuwait. Solid waste data collection process in
Kuwait is still conventional and insufficient.

There are no specific regulatory requirements for
at-source segregation, reuse, and recycling.
Findings and Recommendations
Findings Cont.

There are no firms for recycling or composting
food (organic) wastes.

Most of closed landfill sites (10 out of 16) are in
close proximity to residential areas. Open Landfill
sites are still operated improperly.

The most recycled materials are paper and
cartoons, Glass recycled materials, and small
quantities of metals.
Findings and Recommendations
Recommendations
1. Further studies to be conducted in order to
update information related to types, and
quantities of MSW, and cost of SWM.
2. MSW inventory control system (Data collection
that based on modern systems and recording
technologies shall be provided).
3. EPIC for construction waste and demolition
debris should be well organized and effectively
operated.
Findings and Recommendations
Recommendations Cont.
4. Establishment of household solid waste
reception/storage centers especially for food
wastes (organic matters) in order to utilize them
for recycling.
5. Effective regulatory regulations regarding atsource segregation.
6. Since most of MSW is land filled in Kuwait,
enforcement of landfill regulations and effective
landfill management is considered an essential
issue.
Thank You