A colloquium on environmental management and waste disposal was recently held in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, under the theme "The Citizen's Charter, an Open Door to Sustainable Development." The event was organized by the Arc-en-ciel association and the Tizi-Ouzou Provincial Assembly (APW), and brought together experts, activists, and citizens to discuss the challenges and opportunities in environmental management. The colloquium was opened by Sid Ali Youcef, president of the APW's environmental commission.
The colloquium featured several presentations and discussions on various aspects of environmental management, including the health risks associated with environmental degradation, waste management and regulation, and the importance of citizen involvement in environmental protection. Idir Oulamara, a biologist, discussed the health risks associated with environmental degradation, while N. Siad, a lecturer at the Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou, talked about the law on waste management and the need for a collaborative approach to environmental protection.
The colloquium also heard from Professor Arezki Hammoum, who discussed the management of household waste in the Tizi-Ouzou province. He cited the example of the commune of Bouzeguène, where a successful waste management scheme has been implemented, involving the creation of centers for sorting and composting waste. Hammoum emphasized the need for a change in mentality and behavior, as well as the importance of recycling and composting in reducing waste.
According to Hammoum, the average Algerian citizen generates 800 grams of waste per day, with 60% of that waste being organic. He argued that this presents an opportunity for composting and recycling, and that the state has planned to build 300 waste treatment centers, but so far only 93 have been built due to financial constraints. Hammoum also highlighted the success of the Bouzeguène commune, where villagers have created centers for sorting and composting waste, and where investors are recovering and transforming waste into raw materials.
The colloquium also discussed the importance of creating a citizen's charter to promote sustainable development and environmental protection. The charter is expected to be adopted by the local authorities and will provide a framework for citizen involvement in environmental management. The association organizing the colloquium plans to create a economic cartography of the province, with six poles: aquatic, forest, alpine, balneary, urban, and agricultural.
The event concluded with a discussion on the importance of collaboration between local authorities, citizens, and investors in promoting sustainable development and environmental protection. The participants emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to environmental management, involving not only the government but also citizens and the private sector. The colloquium also highlighted the potential for creating jobs and wealth through environmental protection and sustainable development.
The organizers of the colloquium plan to follow up on the discussions and recommendations with concrete actions, including the creation of a citizen's charter and the implementation of sustainable development projects in the Tizi-Ouzou province. The event was seen as a positive step towards promoting environmental awareness and action in the region.
Key points
- Experts call for a citizen's charter to promote sustainable development and environmental protection in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria.
