On Saturday, the Ministry of Local Government in Libya’s interim Government of National Unity (GNU) announced efforts to establish a bilateral cooperation agreement with Tunisia in the field of waste disposal.
To facilitate this initiative, a meeting was held in Tunisia, bringing together key officials from both countries. Libya was represented by Ibrahim Ben Dkhil, Director General of the General Administration for Environmental Sanitation Affairs at the Ministry of Local Government, Mohamed Ben Naji, Director of Projects Administration, and Mohamed Al-Jali, Representative of the International Cooperation Office.
They met with the Director of the Tunisian National Waste Management Agency, the Director of the Municipal Support Program, and a team from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The meeting aimed to create a cooperative framework between the two countries to implement training programs for Libyan personnel, enhancing the skills of employees involved in the final disposal of medical waste and other waste management activities. This initiative seeks to improve waste management practices and environmental preservation.
The discussions also included plans for workshops addressing plastic waste issues in three municipalities in Tripoli, a presentation of the Ministry’s plastic waste management plan to the United Nations, and the launch of a capacity-building project for plastic waste management in Greater Tripoli.
In January, the Ministry of Local Government initiated a project to build capacity for plastic waste management in the Greater Tripoli area in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Minister of Local Government Bader Al-Din Al-Toumi stated that this project marks the beginning of a new solid waste strategy for the ministry. He emphasized that improperly disposed mixed waste, including plastic, poses significant environmental risks due to its long decomposition time.
The recent meeting also focused on exchanging expertise and developing joint strategies to tackle waste management challenges effectively.
The collaboration between Libya and Tunisia on waste management is timely and crucial. Effective waste management is a significant global concern, with improper disposal posing health and environmental risks. In North Africa, where infrastructure development and environmental policies often face political and economic challenges, international cooperation is vital.
