Climate change mitigation through sustainable organic waste management: Case studies from Egypt and Jordan

Uncontrolled disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW), particularly waste with a high organic content, represents a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in many developing countries. To support evidence-based planning, reliable estimates of the climate benefits associated with alternative waste management strategies are required. This study quantified GHG emissions from solid waste sectors of Jordan and Egypt using the GIZ GHG Calculator, an Excel-based life cycle assessment tool. Country-specific scenarios were developed using the best available primary data to represent existing waste management practices and future national strategies. The analysis showed that informal recycling provides a substantial contribution to GHG mitigation through the recovery of recyclable materials, with Egypt achieving greater emission savings than Jordan due to the stronger activity of the informal sector, including the diversion of organic waste for livestock feed. The most advanced waste management scenarios reduced net GHG emissions by up to 19% in Jordan and 67% in Egypt compared with the Business as usual (BAU) systems. In Jordan, sanitary landfilling significantly improves environmental performance but becomes the largest remaining source of emissions. The planned development of a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) facility plays a critical role in diverting MSW from landfills and mitigating emissions. In Egypt, the greatest mitigation potential is achieved by expanding collection services, eliminating open dumping, and directing the additional collected waste to resource recovery and treatment facilities. The findings demonstrate that maximizing GHG mitigation requires waste management strategies that reflect national conditions, existing infrastructure, and institutional priorities.