Algeria produces over 15 million tonnes of waste a year

Algeria produces more than 15 million tonnes of waste a year, the environment institute said.

Awras reported her remarks from a guest interview on the morning programme of the first radio channel.

The institute is part of the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life.

Achour said more than 6,400 micro-enterprises already work in different branches of recycling and recovering waste. The plan aims to raise the share of recycled waste to 30% over the medium term.

Organic waste makes up 54% of all waste, which offers investment chances in processing and using it. The sector also includes collecting, sorting and transporting recoverable waste.

Achour said the legal framework for the sector has been updated under Law No. 25-02, which amends and completes Law 01-19. The law provides for waste to be recovered, recycled and used as secondary raw materials in industry and trade.

Incentives include tax exemptions of up to six years under executive decree No. 24-61. Project promoters also get easier access to activity licences, and training and technical support through the National Institute of Environmental Training.

Achour said the National Platform for Environmental Entrepreneurship had approved more than 197 licences for young people to collect and transport waste.

Achour announced a programme for 1,000 young people, which will provide three-wheeled vehicles for waste collection. The programme also supports small projects that recycle plastic into raw materials for reuse in industry.

The approach works with support and funding bodies, such as the National Agency for Entrepreneurship Support and Development (Nasda) and the National Agency for the Management of Micro-Credit (Angem). It also includes the self-employed entrepreneur scheme.

Achour said selective sorting of waste at source is a basic step to improve collection and treatment, and to raise the quality of material sent for recycling.

She said people and institutions should take part in building this practice.