MUSCAT, Oman, July 20: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have successfully met the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to recycling and reusing hazardous waste, according to data released Sunday by the Statistical Centre of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).

The report revealed that the recycling and reuse rate of hazardous waste in the GCC reached 30 percent in 2023, enabling the region to achieve the 12th SDG, which focuses on responsible consumption and production. Furthermore, the cumulative number of national reports submitted by GCC countries under the Basel Convention on the Control of Hazardous Wastes totaled 87.

By the end of 2023, the GCC countries collected an estimated 262.7 million tons of waste, marking a significant increase of 153.7 percent compared to 2019. Of this total, 192 million tons were treated, reflecting a 128.5 percent rise. Notably, the per capita household waste decreased by 17.4 percent to 1.4 kilograms per person per day during the same period.

The report highlighted that 99.2 percent of non-hazardous waste was collected across the GCC, while 95.8 percent of hazardous waste was exported globally for treatment. This treatment primarily involved recycling or recovery of metals and metal compounds.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, hazardous waste collected from the healthcare sector declined by 11.4 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. The GCC countries also made significant advancements in medical waste management infrastructure, increasing the number of incinerators to approximately 23 sites—a 27.8 percent growth from 2022. The design capacity of these incineration facilities surged by 123.9 percent, reaching 127.5 thousand metric tons.

In contrast, hazardous waste from the industrial sector rose by 23.8 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. Meanwhile, municipal household waste collection decreased over the past three years, falling from a peak of 35.5 million tons in 2020 to roughly 30.8 million tons in 2023.

Agricultural waste collection also saw a notable increase of 44 percent in 2023, rising to 2.5 million tons compared to 2 million tons in 2022 and 1.7 million tons in 2019. Additionally, municipal waste generated by other economic activities increased from 11.9 million tons in 2019 to 14.3 million tons in 2023.

According to the “GCC Waste Management Market Analysis 2019-2023” report by Mordor Intelligence, the waste management market in GCC countries is valued at approximately $68.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $97.4 billion by 2030. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent during this period.

GCC-Stat, based in the Sultanate of Oman, serves as the official statistical authority for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It is tasked with providing data and enhancing statistical and information technology services for national planning agencies.