The Public Authority for

Investment Promotion
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Briefings from Oman

Waste Management
 Waste Management
2 Briefings from Oman

Briefings from Oman

Published by Ithraa, the Sultanate of Oman’s inward investment
and export development agency, Briefings from Oman is a series
of ten sector-specific documents that explore waste management,
logistics, tourism, health, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries,
and more.

Designed to connect the world with contemporary Oman and its

dynamic business community, each Briefing provides a snapshot
of one sector in the sultanate and the ambitious projects and
innovative business ideas currently driving that space.

Informative, realistic and easily digestible, the Briefings are

intended to inspire business, investors and our partners at large
to consider the significant opportunities these sectors present.

Distribution
Briefings from Oman are offered free-of-charge and distributed
to Omani embassies, ministries, foreign trade missions,
at international trade shows, B2B meetings, as well as to schools,
colleges and companies across Oman.

If you would like to share Briefings from Oman in a hotel or

at a business event, please send an email to [email protected]
for further information.

Disclaimer
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of the material contained in this document, complete accuracy
cannot be guaranteed. Ithraa will not accept any responsibility
whatsoever for loss or damage occasional or claimed to have
been occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person
acting, or refraining from acting, as a result of a matter contained
within this document. All or part of this document may be
reproduced without further permission, provided the source is
fully acknowledged.

Published December 2016

Editorial: Taleb Al Makhmari Editor-in-Chief

Dave Pender Advisor
Sajda Al Ghaithy Senior Editor
Nadia Al Lamki Editor
Lubna Al Harthy Production Manager
Walyam Al Said Production Associate
Design: Lamahat www.studiolamahat.com

Photography courtesy of Ithraa & be'ah

 3

No Time to Waste
A Circular Economy
Waste is a global challenge. If not properly dealt with, waste carries serious health, fiscal and
environmental consequences. It is a problem that is linked to the way societies produce and
consume. It is an issue that concerns everyone.

Global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation levels are expected to rise to 2.6 billion tonnes per
year by 2025, this increase is influenced by population growth, urbanization, economic development
and industrialization. Generally, the higher the economic development and rate of urbanization,
the greater the amount of MSW produced.

The world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion by 2024, 80% of this population will live in cities
and become part of the growing consuming middle class. OECD research suggests that by 2020 there
will be more than 1 billion new global consumers spending between US$10 and US$100 per day.
A by-product of consumerism is the generation of waste. Indeed, public waste systems are already
struggling to keep pace with the fast expanding, consumer-driven urban middle class. Indeed, it is
estimated that 90% of the raw materials used in manufacturing become waste before the product
leaves the factory while 80% of products made get thrown away within the first six months of their life.

Effective waste management is central to Oman’s sustainable future and critical for the conservation
of the sultanate’s natural resources. And as the volume of Omani waste grows, so does the urgency
with which we must focus on recycling, re-use, energy recovery and the circular economy.

Those working in today’s US$1 trillion a year waste sector already understand the potential of sound
waste management. If handled properly, Oman’s waste sector has huge potential to turn problems into
solutions, create new businesses and jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and convert
waste to energy. Let us think of waste not as a problem, but as a commercial opportunity to recover and
convert important resources. The message is clear: today’s circular economy is not just about saving the
planet – it is about profiting while doing so.
 Waste Management
4 Briefings from Oman

BAN Nearly all waste is generated by city-dwellers and as the

world’s population grows and hurtles towards an urban
future, the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW),
one of the most important by-products of an urban lifestyle,

WASTE
is growing even faster than the rate of urbanization.
 5

City Dwellers
Ten years ago there were 2.9 billion urban residents generating about On the domestic front, Oman’s population is projected to reach
0.64 kg of MSW per person per day (0.68 billion tonnes per year). 4.9 million by 2025, generating 1.2 kg of waste per person per day.
Today, there are about 3 billion residents generating 1.2 kg per person The possible negative repercussions of generating such large amounts
per day (1.3 billion tonnes per year). By 2025 this will likely increase of MSW are simply staggering. Indeed, once one starts to think about
to 4.3 billion urban residents generating about 1.42 kg/capita/day of them it is hard to think about anything else.
municipal solid waste (2.2 billion tonnes per year).

2.9 billion 3.0 billion 4.3 billion Global | Population | Oman 4.9 million
2005 2015 2025 2025

KGs of MSW
0.64 1.20 per person 1.42 1.20
per day

The Basics: What is Municipal Solid Waste?

Any waste collected by or on the order of municipalities falls under
the definition of municipal solid waste (MSW). The Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines municipal
waste as:

Waste from households, including bulky waste, similar waste from commerce and
trade, office buildings, institutions and small businesses, yard and garden waste,
street sweepings, the contents of litter containers and market cleansing waste.
 Waste Management
6 Briefings from Oman

Municipal Waste Sources

Source Types of Solid Waste

Food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, leather, garden wastes, wood, glass, metals, ashes, special wastes (e.g., bulky items,
Residential
consumer electronics, white goods, batteries, oil, tyres) and household hazardous wastes.

Industrial Housekeeping wastes, packaging, food wastes, construction and demolition materials, hazardous wastes, ashes, special wastes.

Commercial Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes.

Institutional Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes, biomedical waste.

Construction & Demolition Wood, steel, concrete, dirt, etc.

Street sweepings; landscape and tree trimmings; general wastes from parks, beaches, and other recreational areas;
Municipal Services
Sludge Process (manufacturing, etc.)

Industrial Process wastes, scrap materials, off-specification products, slay tailings.

Agriculture Spoiled food wastes, agricultural wastes, hazardous wastes (e.g., pesticides).

Environmental Risks & MSW The Challenge Ahead

MSW contributes to environmental problems including Oman needs to further integrate waste management systems
habitat destruction, surface and groundwater pollution while making reduced environmental impact a top priority.
and other forms of air, soil and water contamination. To achieve more sustainable MSW management practices,
Incineration creates toxic substances, while landfills the challenge will be to reduce the amount of solid waste
emit methane and other gases which contributes to generated, while increasing the amount of waste diverted
global warming. from Oman’s landfills through reuse, recycling and other
initiatives in an economically feasible way. Residents of
Oman must also realize that continued economic growth
can’t come at the expense of the sultanate’s environment.
 7

UK

Belgium

France

Flanders
A Waste Management Star
In today’s complex world "prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future."
However, there are trends suggesting where and how the waste management industry will evolve.

One of the best stories of government leadership and collaboration with business for waste prevention
and waste reduction is Flanders in Belgium. The Flemish waste policy gives priority to waste
prevention, followed by re-use, recycling, waste incineration - with energy recovery - and, as last and
worst option, landfilling.

Flanders has an environmental tax for waste treatment that ranges from US$9 per tonne for incineration
to US$95 per tonne for landfilling. In 2009, the revenues from these levies totaled US$36 million.
These funds were then used for proactive waste prevention strategies. One of Flanders’ key strategies
to prevent waste goes to the root of the waste problem: the very design of products.

In 2008, US$1.19 million in subsidies were given to reuse and recycling centres. In 2009, Flanders had
over 110 second-hand shops employing a total of 3,861 employees and serving over 3.6 million paying
customers. The government also organizes “Ecodesign Awards” for students and professionals as a way
to encourage innovations in waste prevention. Prizes range from US$500 and US$5,000.
 Waste Management
8 Briefings from Oman

Zero Waste & Reuse = Green Jobs

Zero waste - a state in which 95% or more of materials are A new briefing from RREUSE shows that the job creation potential
diverted from landfills into some beneficial next use - wouldn’t just of the re-use sector is significantly higher than recycling, incineration
help Oman’s environment, it would help the sultanate’s economy and landfill. The report cites US figures showing that for 10,000
too. Recycling, composting and reuse create green jobs and lots of tonnes of waste products and materials, one job would be created
them. Recycling and reuse create at least nine times more jobs than if incineration were used compared to six jobs in landfill, 36 jobs in
landfills and incinerators. And in the US, recycling jobs generate an recycling and up to 296 in refurbishment and re-use. Data from
annual payroll of nearly US$37 billion and gross over US$236 billion Komosie, a Belgian network of approved re-use organisations suggests
in annual revenue. even greater potential for re-use, at 800 jobs for 10,000 tonnes.
The conclusion from these statistics is clear: landfilling kills jobs.

Reuse Creates Skilled Jobs

Greater reuse creates higher-skilled jobs, improving the quality of jobs and semi-skilled workers. Furthermore, reuse through more
created. Recycling and waste management offer a larger proportion of remanufacturing, servitisation and repair, creates employment
low or intermediate skilled employment in the areas of collection, near existing manufacturing sites where unemployment tends
handling and processing. However, reuse requires more skilled to be higher, giving these areas a economic significant boost.

Five barriers hindering high-value reuse

1 2 3 4 5

Knowledge Technology Market Legal Culture

Lack of knowledge and The technology to The market Regulations surrounding The nature of consumer
information on how pursue high-value dynamics including the classification and behaviour regarding
products can be most reuse is either not costs, taxation, management of end-of-life and reuse
effectively reused. available or still in incentives and vested waste and end-of-life of products is difficult
development. interests makes it products prevents to change to
difficult to adopt reuse activities from encourage more
high-value reuse being fully utilized. high-value reuse.
opportunities.
 9

Breaking Down Barriers

To address the barriers to reuse Oman’s Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs could work with Omani businesses and key stakeholders to develop
resources, tools, guidelines and policies that ease or remove these barriers and encourage greater high-value reuse.

Barrier Type Opportunities to Break down Barriers

Knowledge Put forward tools, guidelines to educate municipalities, businesses, families, consumers about reuse.

Technology Incentivize and support programs to research and innovate technological solutions for greater reuse.

Market Collaborate with government organizations to enact new legislation and modify existing legislation to promote greater reuse activities.

Legal Promote public-private partnerships that encourage and sustain co-operation between businesses around reuse.

Culture Create awareness programs to shift the mind-set of Omani consumers towards greater reuse.

The Middle Class Drive Waste

Waste generation is largely driven by two factors:

Population Consumption
Patterns

4.9 bn

Which are controlled by

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (GDP/c)
1.8 bn

The OECD estimates that the global middle class - defined as

households with daily expenditures of US$10-100 per person, in 2005
purchasing power parity terms - will swell to 4.9 billion people by
2030, from 1.8 billion in 2009. Two-thirds are expected to reside in
Asia, up from 28% in 2009, with China home to the largest share. US100-10$ Daily Expenditure 2009 2030

Against this backdrop, the traditional “take-make-dispose”

economic models, where manufacturing, consuming and disposing
goods are a linear process, are becoming increasingly unviable.

For example, the World Economic Forum estimates that 80% of

the US$3.2 trillion value of the global consumer goods sector is
lost irrecoverably each year due to this wasteful model.
 Waste Management
10 Briefings from Oman

Increase in GDP/c
In addition to population growth and rise in middle class consumers, American economist and Earth Institute Director, Jeffrey Sachs,
a remarkable increase in GDP/c especially in developing countries is estimates that in developing countries GDP/c will be around
on its way. US$40,000 in 2050, the same as US GDP/c in 2005.
WO

The remarkable growth of global GDP/c will drive waste volumes.

RL
DP

Using macroeconomic data from 30 OECD countries it has been

RO
DU

estimated that a 1% increase in national income creates a 0.69%

CT
IO

increase in MSW.
N

2005 2025 2050

By 2025, world production will have doubled in relation to 2005. However, the upside is the larger the GDP/c the more advanced
And by 2050, world production may again have doubled compared and effective waste management systems and technologies
to 2025. The global average GDP/c in 2025 will be approximately become. So, global GDP/c growth will multiply modern landfills,
one and a half times the current rate and in a business-as-usual efficient collection systems, mechanical biological treatment (MBT)
scenario it could be fourfold by 2050. and waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities around the world.

Eating Habits
Changes in food culture and eating habits, particularly in
developing countries, is another key factor in the fast changing
waste management industry. As GDP/c increases, the demand increase in
for agricultural goods is expected to rise by 70% and the demand demand by 2050
for meat will double by 2050.

Besides the serious issues related to food production and

sustainability, these changes will impact waste composition in 70% 50%
a large part of the world. The organic fraction will be more increase in
dominant in MSW, more agricultural and meat waste will create demand by
2050
new problems that have to be faced. Moreover, such changes in
waste composition make the greenhouse gas challenge for
waste management more difficult than it is already. Agricultural Goods Meat

Urban Food Waste

6%
Other 33%
Natural Gas &
Petroleum Systems
8%
Manure
Management It has been estimated that urban food waste will increase globally
by 44% between 2005 and 2025. During the same period, Asia is
predicted to experience the largest increase in food waste production,
9% from 252 million to 377 million tonnes. If present waste management
Coal Mining
CH4 Emissions trends are maintained, landfilled food waste is predicted to increase
world CH4 emissions from 31 million to 43 million tonnes and the
landfill share of global anthropogenic emissions from 8% to 10%.
CH4 emissions has 21 times the global warming potential of
carbon dioxide.

22%
Enteric
Fermentation
20%
Landfills
 11

Illegal Waste Shipment

The shipment of illegal waste is a further challenge. Exporting waste illegally to developing countries has become a growing international
business as companies try to minimize the costs of new environmental laws that tax waste or require it to be recycled or otherwise disposed
of in an environmentally responsible way.

E-waste
As electrical and electronic products, including TVs, mobile phones, In the Middle East, just 5% of e-waste is sent to recycling facilities
e-toys, PCs, digital cameras and pervasive computing are rapidly located in Asia, Africa and South America while the rest ends up
devalued and become waste due to fast update and built-in in landfills.
obsolescence, the waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment
(WEEE) stream will become a major challenge for the future waste A report from United Nations University found that the world
management industry. produced 41.8 million tonnes of e-waste in 2014 - an amount that
would fill 1.15 million 18-wheel trucks. Lined up, those trucks would
According to a StEP report, e-waste is now the world’s fastest growing stretch from New York to Tokyo and back.
waste stream. Per citizen, Oman produces 17kgs of e-waste each year
- 69,800 tonnes in 2015. China generates 6.1 million tonnes of New York Tokyo
e-waste annually only second to the US with 7.2 million tonnes.
x 1,150000
The European Environment Agency
estimates between 250,000 tonnes and
1.3m tonnes of used electrical products
are shipped out of the EU every year,
mostly to West Africa and Asia. These And by 2017, the volume of discarded e-waste worldwideis expected
goods may subsequently be processed to be 33% higher than in 2012 and weigh the equivalent of eight of
in dangerous and inefficient conditions, the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
harming the health of local people and
damaging the environment.

Municipal Waste per Person per Year

The Highest in the World
Social, economic and industrial development in the GCC, coupled with
USA
an expanding population has created an explosion in the generation
of MSW over recent years. GCC countries produce a higher amount of 650kg GCC
waste per capita than any other region in the world. It is against this 650kg
backdrop that waste-to-energy (WTE) has become an important mode
of waste management, landfill waste reduction as well as an essential
source of power.

The GCC produces roughly 650kgs of municipal waste per person per
year, almost six times that of India. While only amounting for 15% of
the US population, GCC countries produce almost the same amount of
India
MSW per day as the US.
110kg
 Waste Management
12 Briefings from Oman

Oman’s Waste Generation

On the domestic front, and with a population of 4.1+ million,
Oman generates more than 1.7 million tonnes of MSW each year.
By 2020, Oman is expected to
The average per capita waste generation is more than 1.2 kg per produce 4.6 million tonnes of
day, which is equivalent to 4,263 tonnes of MSW every day,
among the highest in the world. By 2020, Oman is expected to MSW per annum
produce 4.6 million tonnes of MSW per annum.
20.9%
Currently, Oman’s MSW is characterized by a very high
percentage of recyclables, primarily paper and cardboard
(15%), plastics (20.9%), metals (1.8%) and glass (4%). 15.0%
4.0%
However, the sultanate is yet to realize the recycling potential
1.80%
of its municipal waste stream. Most MSW is transported to
350 authorized and unauthorized dumpsites for disposal which
is creating environment and health issues.

Oman's
MSW

Paradigm Shift
Oman’s current waste management systems, even running at their
best, are struggling to handle the growing amounts of waste.
So, unless a new paradigm is adopted, a tsunami of uncontrolled
dumpsites will be the prevailing waste management method.
To effectively tackle the issue, we have to think of waste reduction,
reuse, recycling and management. The issue won’t be resolved by
focusing purely on waste disposal.
 13

Be’ah
Oman Environmental Services Holding Company SAOC “Be’ah” was established in 2007. In 2009, Royal Decree No. 46/2009, granted Be’ah
the mandate and legal status to be responsible for solid waste management in Oman. Be’ah’s vision is to conserve the environment of Oman
for future generations. The company's main objectives are:

Control the environmental

Sustainably structure
damage incurred during Develop Oman’s waste Support the
Oman’s waste sector
traditional waste dumping management industry Omani economy
and services
processes

Be’ah is working towards sustainable waste management practices as per international standards by establishing the required infrastructure,
restructuring municipal waste collection services and improving public awareness of waste management.

Investment Hazardous & Healthcare Waste

Oman’s total investment for basic MSW infrastructure is expected to Healthcare waste has been either incinerated without strict emission
be around US$150 million, the waste-energy-water project will have controls or dumped in the open. Be’ah plans to establish three major
an approximate total investment of US$750 million and the industrial healthcare treatment facilities, mostly based on autoclave technology
waste infrastructure circa US$150+ million. and four smaller facilities to cater for the needs of remote areas.

Municipal Solid Waste As for hazardous industrial waste, in the absence of suitable treatment
The traditional methods of handling MSW in Oman need to be facilities, this is stored on Oman’s industrial estates awaiting a
addressed as they contribute to the increasing amounts of greenhouse solution or is dumped in open dumpsites. Be’ah has started working
gases being produced, affecting the Omani environment and human on an integrated hazardous waste treatment facility that would
health. Uncontrolled dumpsites have existed for many years in Oman treat almost all types of hazardous waste generated in Oman. The
- containing mixed waste streams of hazardous and non-hazardous integrated industrial waste treatment facility will include a dedicated
waste. It is estimated that more than 350 dumpsites are scattered waste solidification facility; units for thermal, physical and chemical
across the country. None of these dumpsites have dielectric layers treatment designed to process different types of industrial waste;
which reduce harmful gas emissions, prevent contamination of soil as well as landfills. The facility will treat and process waste with
and the leaking of toxic fluids into groundwater sources. maximum safety in accordance with international standards. Be’ah’s
plan for industrial waste will be carried out in phases.
In a concerted effort to control environmental damage, Be’ah has
embarked on an aggressive plan to close all dumpsites and replace Be’ah operates the following plants:
them with modern engineered landfills and transfer stations. As the
infrastructure is established, outsource contracts are being floated as Al Multaqa healthcare waste (HCW) plant located in Al Amerat
tenders, whereby experienced international companies will provide consisting of two lines of incinerators and autoclaves. This plant
municipal waste management services that include pre-collection, serves HCW received from Muscat, Al Dakhliya and South and
collection, transportation, treatment and disposal. Oman comprises North Al Sharqiyah.
of 11 governorates and based on the quantity of waste and distance,
Sohar (Liwa) HCW plant - commissioned in late 2015 - serves South
ten contracts have been developed to meet the sultanate’s waste
management needs. and North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi and Al Dhahira.
The Thumrait Plant will serve Dhofar, commissioning is planned for
late July 2016. There are plans to construct small treatment units to
serve remote areas though this has yet to be defined.
 Waste Management
14 Briefings from Oman

Modern Landfills
Beginning operations in 2011, the Al Multaqa engineered landfill Challenges for Oman
in Al Amerat - originally built by Muscat Municipality - is the first
engineered sanitary landfill in Oman. The landfill site, spread Oman’s existing waste collection, transfer and transport practices
over 9.1 hectares, consists of five cells with a total capacity of are often affected by improper bin use, poor route planning,
10 million m3 of solid waste. Each cell has 16 shafts to take care lack of public information about waste collection schedules and
of leachate. All shafts are interconnected in order to facilitate the number of vehicles used for waste collection.
movement of leachate to the leachate pump. The project is part Tenders - covering a 5 – 10 year period - have been issued to
of the international waste collection operators for different regions.
government’s initiative to tackle solid waste in a scientific and For example, Lisbon-based Suma through a consortium Suma
environment-friendly manner. Being the first of its kind, Ecovision has begun waste collection for Al Sharqiya South,
Al Amerat landfill is expected to be an example for future solid operating and managing transfer stations and landfill operations.
waste management projects in Oman. Khasab
Similarly, Urbaser a leading Spanish company specialized in waste
management with international expertise provides services in
Today, Be’ah operates four South Al Batina. Furthermore, Veolia, a global waste management
engineered landfills including Sohar
player, has won its first waste management contract in Oman.
Al Buraimi
Al Multaqa (Al Amerat), Tahwa More outsource contracts will be awarded, whereby experienced
(South Al Sharqiya), Izz (Al Dakhiliya)
Barka international companies will provide municipal waste
Ibri
and Barka (South Al Batinah).
Al Multaqa management services that include pre-collection, collection,
More engineered landfills are being Al Mudhaybi Izz transportation, treatment and disposal to cover Oman’s
Tahwa
constructed and some are soon to 11 governorates.
be commissioned in:
Engineered Attitudes to Waste
Landfills Omani household attitudes towards waste generation, utilization,
Operational
Duqm reuse and recycling are influenced by family size, level of
Upcoming education, GDP/c, gender, peer influence, location of household,
waste collection service and awareness of environmental affairs.

Thumrait
Social influences, altruistic and regulatory factors are some of
the reasons why certain communities develop strong waste
management, reuse and recycling habits. For example, people
who frequently go to the bins to dispose of waste are more likely
Transfer Stations to recycle products at home and in most cases, as the distance to
Transfer stations are centralized facilities where waste is unloaded recycling bins decreases, the percentage of items separated and
from smaller collection vehicles and re-loaded into larger vehicles collected at home for recycling increases.
for transport to a disposal or processing site. It is an engineered
structured facility designed to receive mixed municipal waste from Recycling’s Down in the Dumps
normal refuse collection vehicles and discharge it into large semi- The economics of recycling are currently unfavorable. In many
trailer trucks for more economical shipment to distant treatment cases recycling waste is expensive compared to buying the
or disposal sites. The facility is also designed to receive bulky product. With falling oil prices, a strong US dollar and a weakened
waste including used tyres as well as construction and demolition Chinese economy it is cheaper for plastics companies to use new
waste that are handled separately by special containers and then or virgin materials than recycle. Industry estimates suggest that
transported to its final destination for processing or treatment 2,000 US municipalities are paying to dispose of their recyclables
Be’ah plans to establish 16 transfer stations in different locations instead of the other way around.
across Oman.

Waste Diversion Strategy

Be’ah has developed a diversion strategy that takes into
account the nature of waste produced in Oman and its sources.
The strategy calls for recycling facilities for different waste
streams that will help maximize value and support Oman's
economy through various in country value initiatives. A
major national project is also in the planning stage to recover
energy from waste which will then be used to power and run a
desalination plant that will generate a substantial amount of
much needed potable water. Ultimately, the diversion strategy
aims to reduce the amount of waste disposed at landfills by
utilizing waste for different purposes.
 15

- Opportunities for Oman

Underdeveloped Market for Recycled Products Waste Management Contracts
In addition to low oil prices, a strong US dollar and a weakened Recently, government has awarded a number of contracts
Chinese economy, insufficient demand for recycled products in to the private sector to set-up and operate integrated waste
the Omani market has hampered the growth of the sultanate’s management facilities or waste recycling units.
waste recycling industry. There are only a few organizations However, opportunities in the sector are still largely untapped.
engaged in recycling waste paper, cardboard and plastics.
Most recycled products are exported to India, Pakistan and Waste Collection & Transportation Services
other Southeast Asian countries. Private players are active in Oman’s waste collection and
transportation market. The government has plans to reduce
Business Responsibility the current 350 solid waste disposal sites to 10, this implies
Responsibility for consumer-related recycling shouldn’t fall more distances between disposal sites and therefore would
entirely to the Omani consumer. Oman-based manufacturers require more transportation to handle waste. There is good
and retailers that sell unrecyclable packaging should also make growth potential for such services in the market.
a change. Businesses responsible for those sales need to step-up
and take responsibility for financing collection and recycling of Management of Landfills
post-consumer packaging. At present, Be’ah manages Oman’s landfills. However, it is likely
that new facilities will be built under BOOT or BOT contracts. With
More Oman-made products should be designed for longer the large amount of MSW generated each day by Oman, there are
lifetimes, be ready to be disassembled, repaired, reused and considerable opportunities for waste management facilities.
eventually recycled. Recycling should be routine in every
Omani business. Less than 10% of all plastic is currently Waste Equipment Suppliers
recycled in the GCC. As Oman re-invents its waste sector, opportunities will arise
for the supply of waste handling equipment such as trucks,
Plastic Problem garbage bins, incinerators and other equipment.
Unfortunately, plastic is much more difficult to recycle than glass,
aluminum or paper. A common problem with recycling plastics Waste Water Treatment Facilities
is they are often made up of more than one kind of polymer or The current market for the GCC’s waste water treatment is
there may be a fibre added to the plastic (a composite). estimated at US$2.2 billion and is forecast to reach US$4 billion
by 2020, growing at a 10.6% CAR. The lack of specialized
Plastic polymers require greater processing to be recycled as each waste-water treatment facilities in Oman provides investors with
type melts at different temperatures and has different properties, a key business opportunity.
so careful separation is necessary. Moreover, most plastics are
not highly compatible with one another. Apart from familiar Waste Recycling
applications like recycling bottles and industrial packaging film, Recycling of waste paper, cardboard, metal and glass is
there are also new developments like covering pipes, window already practiced in GCC albeit on a small scale.
frames, roofing membranes and flooring. However, as waste management practices become more
efficient across the sultanate, waste recycling is likely to
Poor Professional Image be more attractive commercially.
Oman’s waste management industry will see significant growth as
urbanization drives waste disposal needs. However, the industry Waste-to-Energy (WTE)
suffers from a poor public image – this has to change if waste The high levels of waste generation per capita and the growing
management is to attract the science and engineering graduates population rate of Oman provides a key opportunity for energy
it clearly needs. generation from waste. Reports have suggested that the WTE
market will grow to between 300-500MW of power by 2020.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have already
announced major plans in the WTE market.

Industrial Waste Facilities

Given the high level of industrial activity in Oman and the lack of
disposal options for industrial waste – currently industrial waste
is stored on industrial estates. Be’ah estimates that in 2015,
Oman had 1,360,000 tonnes of untreated industrial waste,
approximately 90% of this - including slag - is generated in Sohar.
 Waste Management
16 Briefings from Oman

Ban Plastic
It’s not a secret that most plastics take hundreds, if not thousands of years to
photodegrade, or that they’re wildly hazardous to local ecosystems and wildlife.
That’s why cities are starting to address the plastic waste generated within their
borders. Styrofoam in particular has been discussed widely throughout the years,
and cities across the world have increasingly been resorting to bans on food
packaging made out of polystyrene foam. While it’s cost-effective and durable
enough for packaging, its lightweight makes it prone to being easily spread by
the wind, and it can seep compounds like styrene into the earth and groundwater.

Interest in Sustainable Living Mandatory Composting

The Omani public’s attitude towards waste management, reuse and Nearly 30% of all food fails to end up in someone’s mouth and if the
recycling requires a radical overhaul. People can change their attitudes total worldwide food loss and waste were a country, it would be the
about waste once they’ve a better understanding of the problems third largest CO2 offender on the planet. This means there are still
and the eco-friendly options available. Indeed, the Omani public may millions of tonnes of food sitting at the bottom of a landfill that
generally be more environmentally aware today, but many still don’t could have otherwise been turned into healthy compost material
fully understand the simple steps to go green. Education can help. for personal or municipal use. That’s why more municipalities
across the world are starting to institute programs for organic
Changing the Public’s Behaviour material composting.
Changing the public’s waste management, reuse and recycling
behaviour won’t be a simple or straightforward exercise. No single Biodegradable Plastics
model exists to enable Omani policymakers to quickly change The market for biodegradable plastic resins has been increasing
the actions of householders in relation to waste management. steadily for a number of years and is currently expected to increase
However, there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate by 19% per year into 2017. While some possible applications include
improved household waste management behaviour: car parts, clothing and electrical components, there’s still the issue
of labelling certain plastics “biodegradable”. Without proper recycling
Improve two-way communication between all waste actors to create
and composting systems in place to break down the plant-based
better understanding of different perspectives in relation to waste. material, these plastics won’t degrade. When polylactic acid
packaging in particular is mixed with other types of plastics
during processing, it can contaminate the entire batch of recycled
Disseminate appropriate information and education about waste
plastic, rendering it useless.
issues across Oman. Information needs to be developed by
sources that are trusted by all waste management actors for it to Increased Corporate Responsibility
be effective. It’s easy to make hollow promises lauding “corporate social responsibility,”
but more and more companies and businesses are seeing that actions
Develop improved waste management facilities both in terms of do indeed speak louder than words. The age of the conscious Omani
door-to-door collections and off-site provision. The nature and consumer and conscious public is upon us and firms will naturally be
extent of the waste management facilities provided helps to increasing their self-generated waste recycling efforts, as well as being
create the benchmark for social norms of acceptable waste more vocal about sustainability in general. Greenwashing is getting
management behaviour. increasingly difficult to manage, as people are more vigilant and ready
to pounce on illegitimate sustainability efforts. Besides, there are
upsides to businesses becoming more sustainable, like increased
supply line efficiency and reductions in industrial waste.
 17

Make
Use
Return
If there is one thing waste management experts agree
on it is that the linear make-use-dispose model on which
our societies have been built must be dumped. We need
a circular economy approach where materials are valued
and designed to last longer and where opportunities for
re-using materials are easily accessible.

e e
k

k
Ma

Ma
Co

Use
nsu
me

Biological Technical
Materials Materials

E n ri c h Re tu r n

The MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey report: ‘Towards the Circular Economy’ estimates the circular
economy could be worth US$1 trillion a year worldwide by 2025 if companies focused on circular supply
chains that increase recycling, reuse and remanufacture. And a 2014 Nielsen global survey on
Corporate Social Responsibility, found that 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products from
companies they know are making a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint. That is up from
50% in 2012 and 45% in 2011.

There are significant opportunities in Oman for companies, large and small, that have ideas or
technologies that can extract resources from our waste stream, separate them earlier on, or design
products that can be remanufactured without having to trash them and then recover materials.
Indeed, we believe the incentive for entrepreneurs to address current global sustainability challenges
like waste are considerable.
 Waste Management
18 Briefings from Oman

Investing in Waste Management:

A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1 Step 2

Waste Management Ithraa Open Bank Account

All organizations mentioned can be reached Obtain Commercial Registration Timeframe:

via the One-Stop-Shop Depends on the Bank
Timeframe:
• Ithraa 2 hours *Required documents:
• Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI) *Required documents: • CR
• Local Municipality • Copy of partner’s passport • Passport copies
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) • Copy of Omani partner’s ID card • Articles of Association
• Royal Oman Police (ROP) • New commercial registration (CR) form • Sample of authorized signatures
signed by all partners
• Samples of authorized signatures *Some banks may require additional
documentation
*In some cases, security approval is required
(1-5 weeks)

Criminal record clearance is to be attached by

Omani Embassy in applicant’s home country

OCCI

Collect Membership card

Timeframe:
1 hour
Required documents:
CR payment receipt

Company Stamp

Obtain company stamp

Timeframe:
10 minutes
Required documents:
CR

Industrial License

Timeframe:
6 months
*Required documents:
• Copy of partner’s passport
• CR copy
• OCCI certificate
• Local municipality permit
• List of equipment of production
• Completed Be’ah registration form
• Location of business with supporting documents
• Business plan and all related
project documentation
• No objection letter from Be’ah
• Approval from Be’ah

*This requirement doesn’t affect other steps.

Preliminary approvals from relevant government

agencies depend on the requested type of
commercial activity.
 19

Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Rental Agreement Municipality Ministry of Manpower

Complete Ministry of Commerce & Industry Obtain Municipality Permit Obtain Investor Visa
Investor Application Form
Timeframe: Timeframe:
*Required documents: 1-3 days 2 – 7 days
• CR
• List of machinery *Required documents: Register company on:
• Identity card • CR www.manpower.gov.om
• OCCI membership card and print application form
*To apply to rent land, submit all the documents • Rental agreement
Required documents:
to MoCI *Additional documents may be required – • Application form
depends on the planned activities • CR + company stamp
• OCCI membership card
• Passport copies
• Rental agreement
• Municipality permit
• Commitment letter

ROP

Obtain Investor Visa

Timeframe:
1-2 Weeks

Print visa application from:

www.rop.gov.om

Required documents:
• Application form
• Medical report
• Two passport-style photographs
• CR + company stamp
• OCCI membership card
• Copy of passport
• Rental agreement
• Municipality approval
• MoM approval

ROP Civil Status

Obtain Investor ID card

Timeframe:
1 day

Required documents:
• Investor visa
• Passport copy
• Present for fingerprinting
Local Formed in 1996, Ithraa is Oman’s
award-winning inward investment
and export development agency.

Heroes We are an ambitious organization committed to promoting the

business benefits of Oman to a global audience. Our experience,
expertise and global reach helps companies of all sizes realize
their potential.

This directory lists leading Oman-based

Waste Management businesses and
Vision
government organizations. If you want Promoting the sultanate as the best destination for investment
and trade in the world.
to learn more about Waste Management
in Oman they are ready to help you.
Mission
Ithraa To attract sustainable investment and promote the export of
Directorate General of Investment Promotion Omani non-oil goods and services that support the sultanate’s
PO Box 25, PC 117, Sultanate of Oman.
ambitions for growth and prosperity.
Tel: +968 2462 3300 | [email protected]

Be’ah
PO Box 1188, PC 130, Al Azaiba, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Tel: +968 2422 8401 | www.beah.om
Talk to Us
Suma Ecovision
PO Box 138, PC 136, Sultanate of Oman. Tel: +968 24 62 33 00
Tel: +968 2449 7017 | www.suma.pt Fax: +968 24 62 33 36
www.ithraa.om
Urbaser Ithraa, PO Box 25, Wadi Kabir 117, Sultanate of Oman.
PO Box 2122, PC 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Tel: +34 914122000 | www.urbaser.es

West Coast Saubermacher

PO Box 2113, PC 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Tel: +968 2460 5019 | www.wcsme.com

Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs

PO Box 323, PC 100, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Tel: +968 2440 4500 | www.meca.gov.om

The Public Authority for Investment Promotion & Export Development