Baghdad:The National Investment Commission has announced plans to implement advanced waste management solutions in Iraq, focusing on a project in Baghdad that will convert waste into electricity. These initiatives aim to reduce environmental pollution, eliminate unregulated dump sites, and improve sustainability standards.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Salar Mohammed Amin, highlighted Iraq’s significant lag in waste collection and processing, resulting in many areas becoming unregulated dump sites that detract from society.

Amin detailed that the first step in this effort involves waste collection and incineration in Baghdad, in collaboration with the Baghdad Governorate, the Mayoralty of Baghdad, the Ministries of Housing and Electricity, and various municipal and service departments. A joint committee from the Prime Minister’s Office has been established to support this project, with plans to expand it to other governorates.

He further explained that an agreement has been signed with a specialized Chinese company for waste collection in Baghdad. A 5,000-dunum plot in the Nahrawan area has been allocated for the project, which is expected to become operational by 2027. The initiative involves the full incineration of waste to generate clean electrical energy, adhering to international health and environmental standards, thus preventing haphazard waste disposal and open-air burning.

Additionally, the Commission’s Deputy Chairman mentioned a collaboration with a specialized Spanish company to implement air-pressure technology for waste collection beneath residential complexes. This project is part of the Prime Minister’s initiative for modern residential cities, replacing traditional mobile collection vehicles and haphazard dumpsters with more advanced systems.

Previously, the National Investment Commission launched Iraq’s first smart automated waste collection system with the Spanish company URD, marking a significant advancement toward modernizing waste management and adopting cleaner, sustainable solutions for smart city development.