The fourth edition of the Recycling Towards Sustainability (RTS) Conference and Exhibition was held in Doha, Qatar, in February. The event, held under the patronage of His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality, Qatar,  has been serving as a significant platform for promoting awareness and practices related to waste management and recycling. It witnessed the participation of key stakeholders from Qatar and other countries around the world.

This annual event aligns with Qatar's strategic objectives outlined in its National Development Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030 and initiatives and aims to advance Qatar into a sustainable society, ensuring the efficient utilisation of natural resources and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens both now and in the future.

By convening experts, corporate leaders, and officials, the RTS Conference and Exhibition facilitated the exchange of knowledge, innovations, and best practices in waste management and recycling. 

In his address, Eng. Khaled Ahmed Al Sanadi, Director of International Co-ordination at EXPO Doha 2023 and Head of Projects, Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar, highlighted Qatar's commitment to sustainability, emphasising the importance of promoting sustainable practices in various aspects of development, including infrastructure, urban planning, energy, and waste management. He also underscored the role of Expo Doha as a platform for showcasing innovative solutions, technologies, and initiatives that promote sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable future for Qatar and the world. 

The panel discussion on ‘Success stories of countries that put laws and regulations in the field of waste management', explored how countries such as Qatar, and other Middle Eastern countries, Turkey, France and other European countries are coming up with laws and strategies to ensure effective waste management.  The session provided insights into various strategies and challenges related to sustainability and waste management, emphasising the importance of collaboration, policy enforcement, and public awareness in achieving sustainable development. The speakers in the conversation discussed different aspects of sustainability and waste management. They weighed in on the importance of collaboration, data sharing, and policy enforcement for achieving sustainability goals. Waste management certification and its implementation were also stressed. The speakers from the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar, discussed sustainability initiatives in Qatar, focusing on waste reduction and recycling efforts. They underscored the importance of putting in place waste sorting systems, promoting composting, and supporting recycling facilities. Emmanuelle Bautista, Head of European and International affairs, Producer Responsibility Organisation for household packaging and graphic paper, discussed the success of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in France, while outlining the legal framework, targets, and strategies employed by their organisation, CITEO.  She highlighted the targets set by French and European law for recycling rates and reduction of single-use plastics, stressing the need for collaboration among stakeholders to achieve these goals. 

Panel Discussion on Partnership between the State and the private sector in providing public sanitation services featured speakers including Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, Advisor at the Office of His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Muqbel Al Shammari, Director of the General Cleaning Department, Ministry of Municipality, Hassan Nasr Al Nasr, Assistant Director of Waste Recycling and Treatment Department - Ministry of Municipality, and Saif Ali Hamad Al Hajri. They explored the need for collaborative approaches to improving sanitation infrastructure and services through effective public-private partnerships. 
The session on Circular economy in the field of recycling saw speakers explaining circular economy as a holistic approach to recycling, focusing on minimising waste generation and keeping resources in use for as long as possible. Speakers highlighted the importance of adopting circular economy principles in the recycling industry to achieve sustainability goals. The environmental challenges posed by scrap vehicles and the efforts by the Ministry of Municipality to address this issue were also taken up for discussion. The importance of recycling and reprocessing ELVs due to their valuable components, such as steel, was explained. The panelist shared results from case studies, highlighting the environmental benefits, including significant CO2 emission savings. 

During the session on Waste Management in Response to Crisis: Noora Al-Kuwari, Environmental Safety Officer at the Environmental Safety Section, Occupation Health and Safety Department in Hamad Medical Corporation, Münüre TÜRKMEN, Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Republic of Türkiye, and Keyur Shah, Director - Boom Waste Treatment Company, Qatar, addressed the strategies and actions required for effective waste management during crises. They spoke about the importance of preparedness, collaboration, and innovative solutions in handling waste during emergencies such as natural disasters and pandemics. Al -Kuwari said, “Recognising the urgency of addressing COVID waste, the corporation formed a committee to implement safety measures and coordinate with contractors for waste delivery and treatment.” Initially treating COVID waste through incineration, they established procedures for proper labeling, storage, and documentation of COVID waste. The Environmental Safety Section conducted inspections and education to ensure compliance with guidelines, despite facing challenges like domestic waste mixing. TÜRKMEN spoke about Demolition Waste Management in disaster scenarios. She highlighted actions taken post-earthquake, including surveys and waste separation for recycling. They describe the process of crushing concrete waste and separating hazardous materials for proper disposal. Cooperation with international organisations was emphasised for effective disaster recovery. 

Shah addressed crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on medical waste handling. His presentation detailed the surge in COVID cases in Qatar and the government's efforts to manage the crisis, including setting up medical facilities and waste management systems. The speaker emphasised compliance with global guidelines and Qatar's strength in waste management infrastructure, such as incinerators and recycling plants. Success factors in waste management during the pandemic include forecasting, logistics, risk assessment, trained manpower, and specific PPE protocols. 

Day 2

The second day of the conference commenced with a panel discussion focusing on waste management in cities, followed by insightful sessions on recycling in smart cities, the experience of the private sector in recycling and sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI) and technologies in recycling, best technologies for organic waste management (Green-to-X), and zero landfill strategies. 

Eman Al Fadala, Head of Facility Management in Lusail City with Qatari Diar, Eng. Ahmad Al Korbi, ICT Manager at Msheireb Properties, and Ala'aldeen Farhan Ali Al-Soukni, Head of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment at United Development Company, led a panel discussion on waste management in cities. The speakers discussed the importance of executing efficient waste management practices in urban environments to promote sustainability and enhance quality of life. In a session on Recycling in Smart Cities, panelists showcased how technological advancements and data-driven approaches can revolutionise waste management systems. They shared insights into the role of the private sector in driving recycling initiatives and fostering sustainability in urban settings. 

The session on AI and technologies in recycling explored innovative applications such as waste sorting, collection route optimisation, predictive maintenance, and resource recovery. Experts highlighted the transformative potential of AI in enhancing efficiency and sustainability in waste management processes. 

The panel discussion on organic waste management focused on advanced technologies and solutions for converting organic waste into valuable resources. Speakers discussed applications such as anaerobic digestion, composting, hydrothermal gasification, black soldier fly larvae farming, and biorefineries, highlighting their contributions to a greener and more circular economy.

The session on zero landfill strategies underscored the importance of waste prevention, resource recovery, and innovative solutions in achieving a sustainable future. Speakers shared insights into initiatives aimed at minimizing waste sent to landfills and maximizing resource utilisation.