Municipal solid waste recycling in the Gulf Co-operation Council states

Solid waste recycling should be integrated with other solid waste management options to abate degradation in urban environment. This can be accomplished through promotion of economically efficient and environmentally sound practices in managing municipal waste. Recycling can be promoted by encouraging separation at the source. Separation at the source can be achieved through financial incentives stimulation, legislation and raising of environmental awareness. Even some of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states have placed recycling at the top of their waste management priorities, the low cost of landfill and the availability of land make recycling programmes infeasible, uneconomical and unachievable. The only comprehensive form of recycling available within the GCC states is recycling of paper and cartons. The majority of the GCC states never set national or regional recycling targets. The cost of recycling in the GCC states region could be moderate to high according to the collection system selected for the recycling programme. Government policies on the environment exist but are poorly implemented. Public enlightenment programs lacked the needed coverage, intensity and continuity to correct the apathetic public attitude towards the environment. This paper provides strategies for developing the most effective recycling marketing programme considerations and regional co-ordination options.