Waste-to-Energy Project in Oued Laya Site for Sahel Region

The Sahel region of Tunisia faces acute challenges in municipal waste handling and energy security. Approximately 740 tonnes of household waste per day are currently delivered to the Oued Laya landfill, where limited treatment capacity and increasing input volumes accelerate landfill saturation and operational costs. When combined with the growing waste streams from neighboring governorates such as Monastir, Mahdia, Kairouan, and Zaghouan, the region generates sufficient quantities to sustain a high-efficiency WtE facility capable of long-term continuous operation. At the same time, Tunisia depends on imported natural gas for more than 90% of its electricity production, creating vulnerability to external market fluctuations and placing pressure on public finances. The development of a modern WtE system in Sousse presents a dual solution: reducing environmental and health impacts associated with landfilling and generating reliable renewable electricity that strengthens energy independence. The project seeks to transform Oued Laya into a regional hub for waste valorization, demonstrating how integrated WtE infrastructure can serve as a scalable model for urban and peri-urban waste management modernization in Central-East Tunisia.