Improving solid waste management in Gulf Co-operation Council States: Developing Integrated Plans to Achieve Reduction in Greenhouse Gases

Abstract

Landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gases, which contribute to the process of global warming. In the region covered by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), changes in consumption patterns have led to an excessive dump of municipal solid waste (MSW). Thus, it is clearly an important time to re-evaluate conventional waste management protocols in order to establish methods that not only deal with increased demand but also minimize greenhouse gas emissions and improve efficiency of resource management, in general. Here, I advocate the use of a new hierarchy in integrated municipal solid waste schemes, with the aim of designing more eco-friendly management plans for use in GCC states.