Salalah – A national strategy to overhaul waste management is being prepared with plans to strengthen recycling, resource recovery, private-sector participation and governance as Oman moves towards a circular economy.

The Environment Authority (EA) opened a two-day workshop in Salalah on Sunday to discuss the draft National Strategy for Integrated Waste Management with government bodies and institutions involved in the sector.

The meeting, held under the patronage of Dr Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the authority, is reviewing proposed strategic directions as well as a master plan intended to serve as a roadmap for the sector’s next phase.

The strategy aims to establish an integrated national system covering different types of waste while improving resource efficiency, protecting public health and the environment, and supporting investment and innovation.

It will also seek to define institutional roles more clearly, strengthen governance and develop policies, legislation and implementation programmes needed to modernise waste management.

A key focus is greater private sector and community participation, including investment in reuse, recycling and resource recovery projects.

The strategy also calls for wider adoption of innovative technologies across waste collection, treatment and recovery, while aligning Oman with relevant international environmental commitments.

Participants at the workshop are examining the current state of the sector, operational and institutional challenges, future opportunities, proposed performance indicators and targets.

The programme includes discussions on the role of governorates in waste management, with representatives invited to identify local priorities and challenges to ensure the strategy reflects conditions across Oman.

The authority said the initiative supports national efforts to improve environmental sustainability and increase the economic value generated from resources that would otherwise be discarded.

The proposed framework is also intended to support economic diversification by expanding environment-related industries and creating new opportunities around recycling and resource recovery.

The strategy is part of Oman’s broader sustainability agenda under Vision 2040, with the government seeking to move gradually from conventional waste disposal towards a more integrated circular model.