Tunisia had opted for a comprehensive and progressive policy of environmental protection to cope with the current state of the environment affected by significant economic growth and rapid urban expansion in recent years. This policy has turned into a comprehensive and integrated strategy resting on a process of sustainable development and has governed the orientations of the sector-based strategies of socio-economic development to meet the challenges of environmental protection.
In this framework, the adopted national strategy focused on preserving natural resources and rationalizing their utilization, to fighting the various forms of pollution and its negative effects and to promoting citizens’ local environment.
The area of waste management received attention in recent years in view of increasing production quantities, of varying forms and aspects of waste-generated pollution and of the limited resources used in the field of solid waste management. And, under the provisions of the Basic Law on municipalities, the sector has witnessed a significant change reflected since the early 1990’s in the implementation of the National Waste Management Program. This development was followed by a framework law on waste management in 1996 and, finally, the creation of the National Waste Management Agency in 2005.
The National Program for Solid Waste Management allowed finding solutions to problems and negative effects on the environment by replacing uncontrolled landfills by controlled landfills supported by transfer stations complying with environmental, sanitary and technical standards.
The system of waste management developed lately thanks to political will and the sector now enjoys higher attention in the framework of a strategy of environmental protection and sustainable development. There are more projects and activities for overcoming the problems of cleanness and of improving citizens’ quality of life, of fight against pollution generated by municipal, and other, waste. For example, more than 15 controlled landfills and related transfer stations were set up in major cities, coastal areas and tourist attractions. A number of management systems were also implemented for certain types of special waste suitable for conversion and recycling. Other systems are being developed and implemented.
Experience in the field of waste management during the last decade has led to identifying needs of improvement and support over the coming years especially with the institutional and financial aspects and with regards to encouraging private sector participation and partnerships with associations and NGOs.
All these aspects reflect the future challenges of the waste management sector which require creating foundations of an integrated and sustainable management of solid waste which would ensure the development of the sector and the adequate handling of the related issues.
