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Issues |
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In recent decades, Tunisia has achieved significant economic growth. It has led to rapid urbanization, increased pressure on ecosystems and overexploitation of natural resources. |
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To address this issue, Tunisia has progressively introduced a policy of environmental protection which rapidly evolved into a policy of promoting sustainable development. |
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The issues to be resolved are the following : |
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Lack of consultation, cooperation and communication between different stakeholders; Lack of human capacity in the public sector, including local governments; Lack of material resources for local governments; Non-exhaustive character of the current regulatory framework of the various aspects; Increase in the amount of waste; Absence of a preventive approach in waste treatment; Ignorance of the real cost of waste treatment elements; Insufficient activities and outreach programs of environmental education; Slow development of management systems in some waste activities; Weak private sector participation; Modest financial resources to cover the costs of financial management; Difficult flow of products from recycling activities and waste conversion. |
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Objectives of the strategy of Integrated and Sustainable Waste Management: |
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Reducing waste volume; Waste treatment ; Improving the institutional, regulatory and financial framework of waste management; Improving communication, consultation and awareness ; and careful monitoring of statistics and information on waste management. |
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Elements of the Strategy : |
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The following 5 strategic elements have been established to achieve assigned goals: Computer systems, consultation, communication, awareness and education ; Institutional and regulatory framework; Capacity building of human resources and equipment; Funding of the waste management sector and cost covering; Technical and organizational aspects . |
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Challenges and future directions : |
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Future challenges addressed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development with the assistance of other stakeholders aim at ensuring economic sustainability of the waste management sector and high quality of urban life as well as improving citizens’ life conditions, establishing an adequate framework with more involvement of the private sector in this area and increasing efforts to create jobs related to waste management. The move towards sustainable waste management is still dependent on the involvement and participation of all stakeholders at all levels of waste management from production to landfill, including conversion and recycling. It is therefore necessary for integrated waste management to rest on new mechanisms such as tax on waste management, waste exchange, information systems, specific management plans, cost accounting … This is based on supporting efforts for communication, awareness raising and environmental education which are considered as basic elements of any strategy to change behavior. The strategy of integrated and sustainable waste management will support the process followed by the National Waste Management Program, while strengthening protection aspects and conversion methods as part of an additional full program taking into account all aspects of waste conversion as well as the various processes called “National Program of Integrated and Sustainable Waste Management” (PRONGIDD). |
| To download the entire program of the policy, click here |
