Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Faces Criticism Over Waste Management Strategy
Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali faced criticism from parliamentarians regarding her ministry’s strategy for waste management in Moroccan cities, especially since the country is preparing to host the 2030 World Cup.
During the session of oral questions held in the House of Representatives, Aicha Zelfi, a member of the Socialist Union opposition party, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that “the ministry’s projects have failed to yield tangible results on the ground halfway through the government’s term.”
Zelfi further highlighted the situation in the Guelmim Oued Noun region, where there is a lack of waste disposal sites, similar to the conditions in Tan Tan, Assa Zag, and Sidi Ifni.
She stated, “the minister’s discussions of waste management projects create the impression of two distinct realities within Morocco.”
Zelfi also lamented the prevalence of garbage piles on streets and the accompanying foul odors, questioning, “how long will you continue to assist local authorities in Guelmim-Oued Noun in establishing legal public landfills?”
The National Rally of Independents party, from its part, emphasized the importance of simplifying legal procedures for those involved in waste management issues. They noted that “industrial acceleration zones with waste management units encounter customs duties when disposing of non-valuable waste.
Responding to these concerns, the Minister of Energy Transition emphasized, “the issue of waste disposal, whether random or regulated, is a challenging sector that cannot be equated with others.”
She added, “this sector is relentless because if we do not identify the landfill project site from the beginning, it will be difficult to accomplish, especially since many communes do not agree on the land for waste disposal.”
Benali explained further that “the ministry has assessed this issue through the National Program for Household Waste, and we have concluded that we cannot apply the Casablanca waste landfill model to a small commune in regions like Guelmim Oued Noun or Draa Tafilalet.”
“Hosting the 2030 World Cup compelled us to develop a new vision that presents a different model, unlike territorial communes that produce less than 50,000 tons and have other effective technological solutions for waste management,” announced the Minister.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) questioned the efforts of the Ministry of Energy Transition in waste disposal and valurization in rural areas.
Mohammed Achrouro from the (PAM) emphasized “the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Interior to address waste management in rural areas, which falls under the purview of territorial communes.”