Plastic Pollution in West Asia: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions

Beirut, 23 December 2023:  Officials from across the West Asia region have gathered in Manama Bahrain to shed light on plastic pollution and identify potential opportunities that can effectively address these challenges in the region.

Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for West Asia and hosted by the Supreme Council for Environment of Bahrain, the “Plastic Pollution in West Asia Countries: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions,” workshop brought together representatives of West Asian countries along with international experts in the field of plastic pollution.

The workshop serves as a platform for West Asia countries to exchange perspectives, share their experiences, and draw lessons from plastic waste management and circularity. It is expected to formulate recommendations aimed at promoting innovative solutions, policies, and strategies for mitigating plastic pollution through a lifecycle circular economy approach to plastic management.

In her opening speech, Engineer Luma Al Mahrous, Director of the Department for the Control and Environmental Protection, welcomed the participants, and highlighted the constructive and usual cooperation between the Supreme Council for the Environment and the United Nations Environment Program Regional Office for West Asia that resulted into a number of joint activities including this workshop.

She added: “this regional workshop is an opportunity to exchange expertise, experiences and visions regarding the policies and procedures taken or still needed to end plastic pollution. she noted that “the Kingdom of Bahrain is among the first countries in the region that have taken measures to ban single use plastic at the level of national legislation since the year 2019.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Regional Director of UN Environment Programme for West Asia, Mr. Abdul Majeid Haddad, thanked the Kingdom of Bahrain for their hosting of the workshop and reaffirmed the importance of circularity in offering solutions to waste problems, moving from waste management to resource management.  He said: “Plastics value chains represent a unique opportunity to show case circular solutions from production to consumption and avoid costs to present and future generations. The transition to a circular economy for plastics offers a potent and sustainable economic model, decoupling plastic use from finite resource consumption.

In West Asia, as in many parts of the world, plastic waste comprises a substantial portion of the waste stream. An estimated 94% of plastic waste generated remains in the confines of the linear economy, with 40% of it being mismanaged, and 54% finding its way into landfills. Only around 5% is subject to recycling”.

He stressed that embracing strategies that keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment, can unlock economic, social, and climate benefits.

While plastics have brought numerous benefits, their excessive production, use and mismanaged waste have led to serious environmental issues causing pollution, deterioration of ecosystems, and potential health hazards for humans.

Recognizing the need to address plastic pollution, the UN Environment Assembly adopted in 2022, resolution 5/14, to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, which should be ready by 2024.

West Asia countries much like elsewhere around the world, are coping with growing concerns related to plastic pollution. In fact, the rapid economic development and population growth along with the growing tourism industry in many West Asia countries have led to increased urbanization and industrialization, and has resulted in a surge in consumerism and the use of single-use plastics. This has resulted into an increase in the consumption of single-use plastics, ending up in landfills, rivers, and oceans.

While West Asia countries are currently facing challenges in managing plastic waste and pollution, they are also actively taking steps to address the issue. A more concerted effort is required to transition toward a circular economy for plastics, improve waste management infrastructure, promote recycling initiatives, and raise awareness among the population about the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste.

UNEP Regional office for West Asia presented the findings of a study about plastic pollution in the region, its impact and possible sustainable solutions.