Overview
Libya has faced with a variety of bureaucratic impediments, which has resulted in an limited waste management system and poor infrastructure.
The majority of solid waste management regulations enacted before and after 2011 in Libya mandate the assignment of local governments to perform these services throughout the country.
The Ministry of Local Government is responsible for solid waste management throughout the country, whereas local municipal authorities have little or no role in managing this service.
The private sector's contribution to investment in waste management and recycling infrastructure remains low and the waste management sector is largely informal or ad hoc.
Large portions of the waste generated throughout Libya is currently disposed of by open dumping and unofficial landfills in some areas of Libya, with about 587 grams of solid waste per person per day being produced. As a result, organic and inorganic waste is piling in informal landfills and dump sites in various areas around the country, especially in rural areas.
Waste landfills divide in Libya into two distinct parts, which differ in numerous ways, namely:
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Informal landfills: Locations selected for discarding and disposing of solid waste without official approval. Unofficial landfills / dump sites can pose health and environmental challenges for local populations
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Official Landfills: In Libya, each municipality has a landfill for all forms of waste, including industrial, municipal, solid, and other hazardous wastes.
Landfills in Tripoli
Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal
Litter bins and other garbage containers in Libya are regulated by the General Service Company (GSC), and the vast majority of Libyans deposit their waste in these receptacles. The GSC also transports the trash to the main landfills, which is located 60 kilometers to the south of Tripoli at a site called Sidi Alsaeh landfill and additional landfills located at various sites across the country.
As a result of the high population density in the capital city of Tripoli, for example, the city's sewage pumping stations are unable to keep up with the daily water needs of the city's residents, who use about 2 cubic meters each day. Despite the state implementing over 80 projects to modernize sewage networks in Tripoli alone between 2005 and 2011, the problem is still higher than the current resources of the Libyan state, In Tripoli, there is a drainage network that serves only approximately 25% of the city's population, and due to a lack of water treatment plants, the city regularly pumps sewage water directly into the sea through a series of drainage holes, several populations, particularly those living outside of cities, use semi-septic tanks in their dwellings.
Trash container in Tripoli
Litter bins in Tripoli
GSC - Trash containers map in Tripoli
Waste Disposal Company Assessment
Name of Company |
Public Service Company |
---|---|
Physical Address |
Almansura-Tripoli-Libya |
Contact Person |
Mohammed Ben Esmail |
Telephone Number |
094-412-22-22 |
|
|
Website |
Company Profile
Does the company have an Environmental, Health and Safety certification (e.g., ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or equivalent) or self-certified management plan for facilities and personnel? |
N/A |
---|---|
Business License Validity Dates |
Governmental Entity |
Years of experience |
Governmental Entity |
Company main business |
|
Facility is well maintained (roof/walls)? |
Yes |
Hazardous materials are processed and stored separately from non-hazardous waste? |
No |
Facility has adequate ventilation? |
Yes |
PPE provided to staff (hard hats, overalls, boots, etc.)? |
Disposable gloves, boots, and coveralls. |
Processing capacity (e.g., max tonnes/day or month) * |
N/A |
Collection provided |
Yes |
Transport capacity constraints (geographical, volumes, frequency)? |
Since the company owns its own trucks and garbage cans and containers, it is not limited in its ability to serve any area in or around the city of Tripoli. |
Non-Hazardous Waste
Type of Waste |
Accepted at facility? |
Disposal method |
---|---|---|
Packaging (flexible laminate plastics) |
Yes |
Landfill, Incineration |
Packaging (HDPE Plastics) |
Yes |
Landfill, Incineration |
Packaging (Styrofoam) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Packaging (Polypropylene) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Packaging (plastics/others - please specify) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Aluminium** |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Steel** |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Glass |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Corrugated Cardboard |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Packaging (paper) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Pallets (wood) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Paper (office) |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Furniture |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Vehicle Spare Parts |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Styrofoam |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Hazardous Waste
Type of Waste |
Disposal Method |
---|---|
IT Hardware (e.g. servers, routers, external drives, CPUs) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Telecoms equipment (e.g. desk phones, radios, mobile phones) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Computers (e.g. desktop computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, others) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Scanners, printers, copiers, toner cartridges |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Household appliances (e.g. air-conditioners, refrigerators, generators) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Lighting equipment (light bulbs, switches, fluorescent lamps) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Batteries of different types (e.g. lithium ion, lead acid) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. cameras, smoke detectors) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Gym equipment (e.g. treadmills) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Solar Photovoltaic equipment (e.g. PV panels, inverters) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Medical Waste (e.g. soiled medical items, used sharps, glassware, etc.) |
Lack of technical personnel specialized in the management of hazardous waste. There are no specific laws or regulations for, hazardous substances or hazardous waste. Lack of local sound disposal facilities for hazardous waste disposal. |
Admin Waste
Type of Waste |
Accepted at Facility? |
Disposal Method |
---|---|---|
Used engine oil, lubricants |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Tyres |
Yes |
On-site waste collection and physical recycling by other private companies. |
Paints |
No |
N/A |
Chemicals and Fertilizers |
No |
N/A |
General Medical waste (e.g., used masks, office use latex gloves w/o bodily fluids) |
Yes |
Incineration |
General Office Waste |
Yes |
Landfill, Incineration |
Composting (food waste) |
Yes |
Landfill, Incineration |
Additional Comments
Numerous private companies have emerged that gather a variety of solid wastes, particularly cardboard, paperboard, plastic, and plastic bottles, and compress cardboard, plastic, and paper shredding and use them as raw materials and export them to neighbouring countries. As for other waste, especially iron and cans, there are numerous private locations where this type of waste is collected and purchased and converted into a raw material that is sold to the Iron and Steel Complex in Misrata or exported overseas.
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Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.