Libya
Libya - 3.7 Libya Waste Management and Recycling Infrastructure Assessment
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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: 

  • 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 

  • Official Landfills: In Libya, each municipality has a landfill for all forms of waste, including industrial, municipal, solid, and other hazardous wastes.

 

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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.

 

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Trash container in Tripoli

 

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Litter bins in Tripoli 

 

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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 

Email 

info@psct.gov.ly 

Website 

www.psct.gov.ly 

 

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 

  • Production Management 
  • Maintenance Management 
  • Gardens Management 
  • Projects Management 
  • Health Prevention Management 
  • Celebrations and decoration Management 
  • Emergency Management 
  • Landfills Management 

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. 

 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

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.

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