The waste management sector in Algeria reflects a complex interaction between demographic dynamics, economic transformation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and persistent operational constraints. Over the past two decades, population growth, accelerated urbanization, and changing consumption patterns have led to a steady increase in waste generation, exerting growing pressure on municipal services, local authorities, and natural ecosystems.
According to national data compiled by the National Agency of Waste (Agence Nationale des Déchets, AND), Algeria generates more than twelve million tonnes of domestic waste annually, a figure that continues to rise year after year [1]. When industrial, construction, and special waste streams are included, the total volume of waste produced nationwide reaches approximately 30 million tonnes per year, highlighting the strategic importance of waste management within national environmental and economic policy [2].
Structural Weaknesses in the Waste Management System
Despite the scale of these flows, Algeria’s waste management system has long been characterized by structural weaknesses. Official assessments indicate that less than 10% of municipal solid waste is currently recycled, while the overwhelming majority is disposed of in technical landfills or, in some cases, uncontrolled dumping sites [3]. This situation reflects a combination of insufficient source separation, limited recovery infrastructure, and weak market integration for recycled materials. In response, public authorities have articulated a long-term strategic vision through the National Strategy for Integrated Waste Management and Valorization to 2035 (SNGID 2035).
This strategy sets ambitious objectives, including the valorization of 47% of household waste, 47% of special waste, and 60% of inert waste, with an estimated overall economic value of approximately 88 billion Algerian dinars. It also foresees the progressive closure of around 1,300 illegal dumps across the country, signaling a shift toward more controlled and environmentally sound practices [4].
The Economic Dimension of Waste
Beyond its environmental dimension, waste has increasingly been recognized in Algeria as a potential economic resource. Analyses published in specialized economic media estimate that the market value of recoverable waste exceeded 200 billion Algerian dinars in 2023, more than double its estimated value only a few years earlier [5]. This growth reflects both the rising volume of waste generated and the increasing demand for secondary raw materials, particularly plastics, metals, and organic compost. Additional sectoral analyses emphasize that waste recycling remains a largely underexploited source of value creation, with significant potential for private investment, job creation, and local industrial development [6].
In this context, the SNGID 2035 highlights opportunities for public–private partnerships amounting to more than 50 billion dinars and projects the creation of tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs over the period 2019–2035 [4]. Nevertheless, recycling value chains remain fragmented, constrained by inconsistent waste supply, limited sorting at source, and insufficient investment in modern recovery technologies.
In response to these challenges, Algeria has undertaken significant reforms of the legal and institutional framework governing waste management. A major milestone was the promulgation of Law No. 25-02 in February 2025, amending and supplementing Law No. 01-19 on the management, control, and elimination of waste [7]. This reform, led by the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life, marks a conceptual shift in national policy by explicitly recognizing waste as an economic resource rather than solely as an environmental burden. The law aligns national practice with circular economy principles by prioritizing prevention, reduction at source, reuse, recycling, and valorization over disposal [8].
One of the most significant innovations introduced by Law No. 25-02 is the formal establishment of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Under this mechanism, producers, importers, and distributors are required to assume responsibility for the post-consumer phase of their products and packaging, including collection, recovery, and recycling [9]. The objective is to internalize environmental costs, promote eco-design, and mobilize private-sector financing for waste management systems.
The law also strengthens planning instruments by mandating national and territorial waste management plans and introduces provisions for digital traceability of waste flows, with the aim of improving transparency, monitoring, and regulatory enforcement [10].
Role of the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life
Institutionally, the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life plays a central coordinating role in translating the new legal framework into concrete policy measures. Through strategic programs, regulatory instruments, and awareness initiatives, the Ministry seeks to harmonize national objectives with local implementation. In this regard, the launch of the National Program for Integrated Waste Management represents a key step, providing technical and financial support to wilayas and municipalities to modernize collection systems, improve landfill management, and expand recycling and recovery capacities [11]. These efforts are embedded in a broader agenda aimed at improving environmental quality, public health, and urban living conditions.
The National Agency of Waste serves as the technical backbone of the system. Its mandate encompasses data collection, technical assistance, capacity building, and the promotion of waste valorization projects. According to recent agency data, more than 5,000 enterprises are currently active in waste-related activities across Algeria, covering collection, transport, recycling, and recovery operations [12]. This growing ecosystem reflects increasing entrepreneurial interest in the sector, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. However, many of these actors operate at limited scale and face persistent challenges related to access to finance, stable supplies of sorted waste, and reliable market outlets for recycled products.
Implementation Challenges
At the territorial level, implementation remains uneven. Pilot projects for selective waste sorting have been introduced in several major urban centers, including Algiers, Oran, and Boumerdès, often with the support of international cooperation or private partners [13]. However, coverage remains limited and participation rates vary widely. In many municipalities, waste continues to be collected in mixed form, significantly reducing the efficiency and economic viability of downstream recycling processes. Logistical constraints, and shortages of qualified personnel further undermine service quality, particularly in rapidly expanding peri-urban areas [14].
Media reporting and field observations consistently highlight the persistence of illegal dumping, littering, and inadequate landfill management, despite the existence of regulatory prohibitions [15]. These practices contribute to visual pollution, degradation of natural landscapes, and increased public health risks, particularly where waste accumulates near residential zones or water bodies. Environmental and social analyses published in the national press underline the gap between regulatory ambition and local enforcement capacity [16]. While Law No. 25-02 introduces stricter sanctions for non-compliance, effective enforcement remains dependent on coordination between environmental authorities, municipalities, and security services, as well as on the availability of human and financial resources at the local level [7,10].
Public Awareness and Behavioral Change
Public awareness and behavioral change are increasingly recognized as essential pillars of waste management reform. In recent years, the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life and the National Agency of Waste have intensified communication and education campaigns targeting schools, associations, and local communities. According to public media reports, these initiatives have reached large numbers of students and citizens nationwide, with the objective of promoting waste reduction, source separation, and recycling practices [17]. Such efforts reflect the understanding that infrastructure and regulation alone are insufficient without sustained citizen engagement and social ownership of environmental objectives.
The Role of Digitalization
Digitalization has emerged as another strategic axis of reform. Recent initiatives seek to introduce digital platforms for monitoring waste flows, managing sectoral data, and improving coordination among stakeholders [18]. Broader analyses of waste governance in Algeria emphasize the potential of digital tools to enhance traceability, support policy evaluation, and facilitate investment planning [19].
At the same time, the deployment of such systems requires technical expertise, reliable data inputs, and long-term institutional support, which remain unevenly distributed across regions. The regulatory framework established by the implementing texts of Law No. 25-02 provides an enabling foundation for this digital transition, but effective operationalization will take time [10].
Waste-to-Energy Initiatives
Innovative treatment options are also being explored, notably in the field of waste-to-energy. In Algiers, a major project for the energetic valorization of municipal solid waste has been announced, aiming to process around 1,000 tonnes of waste per day and generate electricity for the urban grid. According to official press agency reports, this project is being developed and seeks to reduce landfill dependency while contributing to renewable energy production [20]. While such initiatives illustrate Algeria’s willingness to adopt advanced solutions, their technical, economic, and environmental performance will need to be carefully assessed as implementation progresses.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, Algeria’s strategic vision for waste management aligns increasingly with international trends and commitments to sustainable development. National objectives emphasize higher recycling rates, reduced environmental impacts, and the creation of green jobs, in line with circular economy principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. According to recent projections by the National Agency of Waste, Algeria aims to reach a recycling rate of approximately 20% by 2030, representing a significant increase compared with current levels [21]. Achieving this target will require sustained political commitment, adequate financing mechanisms, strengthened local capacities, and effective partnerships between public authorities, the private sector, and civil society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Algeria’s waste management system can be characterized as being in a phase of transition. Substantial progress has been made in terms of legal reform, strategic orientation, and institutional engagement, particularly through the adoption of Law No. 25-02 and the reinforcement of the roles of the Ministry of Environment and Quality of Life and the National Agency of Waste. Beyond their environmental and economic benefits, these reforms have the potential to contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, notably methane emissions from uncontrolled dumping and landfilling, as well as emissions associated with primary raw material extraction.
By promoting waste reduction, recycling, valorization, and waste-to-energy solutions, the reformed waste management framework can support Algeria’s mitigation efforts and strengthen coherence between environmental policy and climate action. Nevertheless, persistent operational constraints, low recycling rates, and uneven implementation continue to limit overall performance. Bridging the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground realities will be decisive in transforming waste from an environmental liability into a lever for sustainable development, while also enabling Algeria to advance toward its national climate ambitions and meet its commitments under its Nationally Determined Contribution within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
References
[1] Agence Nationale des Déchets (AND), Données nationales sur les déchets ménagers et assimilés, AND, Algiers, 2024.
[2] Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Qualité de la Vie (MEQV), Situation environnementale en Algérie, MEQV, Algiers, 2024.
[3] Agence Nationale des Déchets (AND), Rapport annuel sur la gestion des déchets, AND, Algiers, 2023.
[4] Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Qualité de la Vie (MEQV), Stratégie nationale de la gestion intégrée et de la valorisation des déchets à l’horizon 2035 (SNGID 2035), MEQV, Algiers, 2024. https://www.me.gov.dz/fr/dechets-et-recyclage/
[5] Algeria Invest, La valeur marchande des déchets en hausse constante en Algérie, 2023.
[6] Algeria Invest, Le recyclage des déchets : une mine d’or encore sous-exploitée, 2023.
[7] République Algérienne Démocratique et Populaire, Loi n°25-02 modifiant et complétant la loi n°01-19 relative à la gestion, au contrôle et à l’élimination des déchets, Journal Officiel, Algiers, 2025.
[8] Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Qualité de la Vie (MEQV), Présentation et portée stratégique de la loi n°25-02, MEQV, Algiers, 2025.
[9] RegASK, Algeria Waste Management Law: Introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), 2025.
[10] Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne Démocratique et Populaire, Textes d’application de la loi n°25-02 relatifs à la traçabilité et à la gestion des déchets, Algiers, 2025.
[11] Algérie Presse Service (APS), Lancement du programme national de gestion intégrée des déchets, Algiers, 2025. https://www.aps.dz
[12] Agence Nationale des Déchets (AND), Recensement des entreprises actives dans le secteur des déchets, AND, Algiers, 2024.
[13] E-MC2, Algeria equips three wilayas with selective waste sorting systems, 2023.
[14] Centre de Développement des Énergies Renouvelables (CDER), Gestion des déchets ménagers et assimilés : enjeux et contraintes techniques, CDER, Algiers, 2024.
[15] Presse nationale algérienne, Articles sur la gestion communale des déchets et les décharges illicites, 2023–2024. https://www.presse-algerienne.com
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