Home > Articles > All Issues > 2019 > Volume 10 Number 2 (Feb. 2019) >
IJESD 2019 Vol.10(2): 51-56 ISSN: 2010-0264
doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2019.10.2.1145
doi: 10.18178/ijesd.2019.10.2.1145
Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the State of Kuwait
A. Al Lahou and M. Alsabbagh
Abstract—The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) appears as a challenge for many countries in the world. The rapidly increasing amounts of waste and the consequent potential impacts necessitate proper planning and management. This paper assesses the management of the MSW in Kuwait using the driving forces-pressures-state-impacts-responses (DPSIR) framework. Applying the DPSIR method allows for understanding the causes behind the current state related to MSW along with the potential impacts and responses undertaken so far. The results of the analysis show that the generation of MSW is highly correlated with the population and economic growth in Kuwait. The per capita MSW is relatively high reaching 1.6 kg/capita/year. There are several potential impacts associated with the current practices of MSWM in Kuwait. Yet, only few of them have been assessed. Kuwait has enacted the Environmental Protection Law No. 42 in 2014 where the management of the MSW is emphasized. This paper recommends the calculation of a number of waste-related performance indicators. It also recommends the conduct of a social survey for a better understanding of the consumption patterns and variations associated with the different population groups and seasons. Finally, the initiation of a regional waste-related network is highly recommended to foster collaboration and share best practices with other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Index Terms—DPSIR, Kuwait, municipal solid waste, performance indicators.
A. Al Lahou is with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain (e-mail: Areej_allahou@hotmail.com).
M. Alsabbagh is with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain (e-mail: mahamw@agu.edu.bh).
Index Terms—DPSIR, Kuwait, municipal solid waste, performance indicators.
A. Al Lahou is with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain (e-mail: Areej_allahou@hotmail.com).
M. Alsabbagh is with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Arabian Gulf University, P.O. Box 26671, Bahrain (e-mail: mahamw@agu.edu.bh).
Cite: A. Al Lahou and M. Alsabbagh, "Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the State of Kuwait," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 51-56, 2019.
