Abulgasem alnaas a bazin

The Ministry of Local Government, Libya

Abstract Title:

First Greenhouse Gas Inventory in the Solid Waste Sector (IPCC Methodology) in Libya and Proposed Mitigation Projects

Research Interests:

The solid waste sector in Libya is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane emissions from the decomposition of organic waste in uncontrolled landfills. In this study, I aimed to estimate methane emissions from Libya's solid waste sector(municipal waste), analyze the inventory results, and propose appropriate mitigation projects. The emissions inventory was prepared using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) software, based on available data, which is not highly accurate because there is no national study across Libyan municipalities. However, several studies in major regions in Libya were used as data sources for this inventory, and they match the logic numbers, including population figures, waste per capita, waste composition, and the type of waste dumping in landfills. Inventory results showed that methane emissions from Libya's solid waste sector are approximately 770 kilotonnes in 2025 (Co2 not included). Analysis of the results revealed that landfill management practices and the composition of organic waste are the main factors influencing methane generation rates. The study also proposes various mitigation mechanisms to reduce emissions in 4 main regions in Libya and how emissions will be reduced by implementing the projects, most notably the establishment of sanitary landfills equipped with gas collection and venting systems, the creation of composting plants for organic waste treatment, and the implementation of Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) technologies, which help reduce the volume of landfilled waste. These measures contribute to reducing gas emissions and promoting sustainable solid waste management, thereby supporting climate change mitigation efforts in Libya.