Overview 

The waste collection process in large cities is available considered to be average. 

In major urban areas, waste is typically disposed of in containers placed throughout streets. However, due to container shortages, waste may end up in plastic bags in certain areas or neighbourhoods. Municipalities bear the responsibility for managing solid waste collection and disposal. In major cities, collections occur once daily, while in smaller populated areas, it's typically every two days.  

Waste is generally collected without separation, as a comprehensive waste separation program is lacking. Some regions do segregate medical and industrial waste, but most of the waste ends up in random dumps or old landfill sites due to past crises. 

Collection and disposal operations are carried out by both municipal and private entities, with over 30-40% of disposal managed by private companies. Treatment and landfill operations are predominantly handled by public entities. 

Regarding recycling, there are facilities in places like Tartous and Damascus for converting waste into organic fertilizers, alongside some damaged stations. Organic material sorting typically occurs at these facilities. However, there's currently no specific recycling legislation in place, with waste collection and transportation governed by Law 49, which offers semi-general instructions. 

Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal 

Non- Hazardous industrial waste is disposed of with solid waste in most areas, either in random dumps or sanitary landfills. As for medical waste, it is disposed of in some governorates through treatment plants, and in some other areas it is disposed of randomly. Regarding the discharge of municipal wastewater, except for major cities that has a wastewater treatment plant,  In most laces, sewage is randomly disposed of by draining into rivers, streams, or the sea. There are also some treatment plants that operate at varying capacities and capacities.