The collection and transfer centre for household and similar waste was commissioned by the Tunisian Minister of the Environment, Leila Al-Sheikhawi Al-Mahdawi. The new facility covers an area of 3,000 m2 in the town of Marsa, 18 km north-east of Tunis, and has a storage capacity of 150 tonnes per day.
Household waste is collected using three new collection logs. At least four multi-purpose trucks and 12 30 m3 containers have also been made available to the centre for the transfer of waste.
Strengthening the waste management system
“A private company has been entrusted with the operation of the centre under a public contract, and with the supervision of the work flow of a technical executive with the support of 23 assistants of different specialities,” say the Tunisian authorities. The aim is to strengthen the household and similar waste management system in Marsa.
Currently, Tunisia produces 2.4 million tonnes of household and similar waste each year, according to the National Waste Agency (ANGED). The public body indicates that these 2.4 million tonnes of waste are wrapped in 55,000 tonnes of plastic per year, before being put in bins.
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With the Marsa centre, the number of structures dedicated to the collection and transfer of household and similar waste in Tunisia has risen to eight and could increase further due to the demographic growth experienced by the North African country. From 11.6 million inhabitants in 2019 according to the World Bank, Tunisia will have more than 11.9 million inhabitants in 2021. The seven other centres cover the cities of Hafouz, Sidi Omar Bou Hajla, Ain Jloula, Hajeb layoun, Cherarda, El madina and Sbikha.
Inès Magoum