Leila Benali announced that the professional waste collection rate in urban centers has reached 96%. In response to a written question from advisors Khaled Satti and Labna Alawi from the National Union of Labor in Morocco, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development emphasized that the government continues to support municipalities in this vital area.
The ministry clarified that managing household waste falls under the responsibilities of local authorities; however, the state has been accompanying them through the National Household Waste Program, which spanned from 2008 to 2022. This initiative enabled the establishment of 29 controlled landfills and waste treatment and recycling centers, as well as the rehabilitation of 67 illegal dumps.
The ministry adopted a new vision for integrated and sustainable waste management based on selective collection, separating organic materials from recyclables to enhance waste valuation and reduce management costs, which consume over 29% of municipal operating budgets.
Benali reaffirmed that new projects are being approached with an integrated strategy that considers the entire value chain, from collection to recycling and ecological disposal, aiming to avoid the recurrence of previous environmental issues.
The ministry has also developed a specific waste management model for municipalities producing less than 50,000 tons annually, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, taking into account their unique characteristics and available resources.
Benali mentioned the launch of the National Household Waste Valuation Program (2024-2034), overseen by the Ministry of Interior, with an estimated budget of 21 billion dirhams. This program aims to improve financial and environmental performance by establishing treatment and recycling centers and closing illegal dumps.
The minister confirmed the signing of a framework agreement in December 2024 between the Ministries of Interior and Energy Transition, along with the regions of the Kingdom, to rehabilitate and close illegal dumps and enhance selective collection projects. She added that her ministry will continue to support municipalities in implementing this sustainable vision and in the ecological and economic valuation of waste.
