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Solid Waste Crisis in Gaza: UNDP/PAPP Expert View
Realities and Needs
Before the war, the Gaza Strip faced significant environmental, social, institutional, and financial challenges, severely limiting the provision of proper solid waste management services. UNDP/PAPP had been actively involved in enhancing solid waste management across the occupied Palestinian territory, with a particular focus on Gaza. In September 2023, UNDP/PAPP published a feasibility study that underscored the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions. The study highlighted that Gaza produced an average of 0.86 kilograms of waste per person daily, had access to only two main landfills, and relied heavily on numerous informal disposal sites with outdated machinery.
Today, the ongoing war in Gaza has drastically worsened the situation, leading to a collapse of the waste management system. This crisis has severe implications for public health in Gaza.
Meet our technical team
To shed light on the current situation and UNDP's response efforts, we spoke with Hala Othman, Programme Analyst in Environment and Employment Generation at UNDP/PAPP Gaza office to hear her professional perspective on the situation.
Could you give us an overview of the current situation regarding solid waste management in Gaza?
Before the war, despite numerous challenges, Gaza had a relatively established solid waste management infrastructure. This included collection systems, access to main landfills, collection vehicles, and transfer stations. The system was managed by municipalities, the Joint Service Councils in the North and South, and UNRWA. Additionally, as UNDP/PAPP, we achieved significant progress in hazardous medical waste management. We established two main facilities for medical waste treatment, supplied microwaves and transfer trucks, and most importantly, trained medical staff and health personnel on handling such waste.
Unfortunately, much of this infrastructure has been destroyed during the war. Vital equipment like waste collection vehicles and treatment facilities have been severely damaged. The biggest challenge is that the two main sanitary landfills are now inaccessible, leading to the emergence of over 140 makeshift dumping sites near residential areas and IDP tents, posing significant risks to public health and the environment. According to our estimates, around 1,400 tons of waste are generated daily.
Several organizations, including UNDP, ICRC, and UNRWA, are supporting Gaza's Joint Service Council with limited resources. They have provided some vehicles and fuel to collect and transfer solid waste to temporary dumping sites that remain near populated areas. Additionally, there are initiatives to engage local workers in waste collection within shelters, aiming to alleviate the immediate crisis through community participation in collection efforts.
Why do you think that Solid Waste Management is a priority and crucial in this crisis?
Solid waste management is crucial for public health under any circumstances and anywhere. Proper solid waste management practices are always necessary, but in Gaza's current crisis, they are urgent and require immediate action. The war has exacerbated existing challenges, limiting access to essential resources like food, medicine, and sanitation. Specifically, the collapsing health system and lack of medications are closely linked to the solid waste crisis. The accumulation of waste, including hazardous medical and human waste, increases the risk of disease outbreaks.
What specific actions and resources are needed to improve the situation in Gaza?
UNDP has led the Solid Waste Sector even before the war, conducting feasibility studies in Gaza to understand the situation and identify necessary improvements. Now, after the war, we have continued our efforts in waste collection and transfer, managing around 60% of the solid waste in the South and employing 403 workers in collection, monitoring, and control. We have conducted assessments and developed emergency response plans to guide our actions. Immediate funding of approximately $62 million is needed to enhance waste collection, transportation, and infrastructure restoration over the next 18 months. Scaling up to $110 million will support recovery and long-term development interventions.
What UNDP/PAPP is capable to do is rebuilding the fleet of required waste collection vehicles, including spare parts, ensure fuel supply, and deliver waste containers, cleaning tools, and PPE for waste collection workers. In terms of medical waste treatment, UNDP/PAPP can rehabilitate the medical waste treatment facility in South Gaza, construct an additional facility in North Gaza, supply four medical waste collection vehicles, deliver two medical waste disinfection microwaves, build two medical waste treatment incinerators for pharmacological wastes, provide hospital autoclaves, laundries, dryer machines, cleaning materials, PPE, and training for medical waste treatment workers. For safe disposal sites, UNDP/PAPP can rent equipment for the operation of dumping sites, supply landfill machinery, rehabilitate temporary dumping sites, deliver compacting machines for baling tin cans, and ensure the supply of fuel and pesticides. Additionally, UNDP can strengthen the capacity of institutions managing waste facilities by building IT, HR, and other critical systems, as well as increasing public awareness on hazards and prevention.
Mobilizing resources and funding is critical. Supporting initiatives that strengthen Gaza's solid waste management infrastructure and operations will have a direct impact on public health and environmental sustainability.
