Baghdad municipality bars new pollution-causing facilities, eyes waste-to-energy deal with Chinese firm

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Baghdad Municipality has launched a four-pillar action plan to curb smoke, pollutants and foul odors across the capital, including a ban on new pollution-causing facilities within city limits and the main design area without prior approval from the Environment Ministry. Municipality spokesman Adiy Jundul said in a statement to the official gazette that the plan covers securing sites previously hit by fires, closing landfill areas, preventing new dumping on vacant lots, and developing waste treatment projects. Under the plan, the Rashid Barracks site, where fires had broken out in the past, has been placed under the watch of the unit controlling the area's entrances and exits to block further dumping. Authorities said covering work with suitable soil has been completed in all surrounding areas that previously caught fire, and no further waste disposal is being permitted at those locations. Jundul said a contract process is underway with a Chinese company to process and incinerate 3,000 tons of waste per day, generating around 100 megawatts of electricity. He added that launching the project depends on completing contract procedures with the Ministry of Electricity. Odor-prevention units have also been installed at some wastewater treatment facilities. Jundul noted that no factories exist within Baghdad's main design area, with existing facilities falling outside the original plan and overseen by the Baghdad City Council. The Baghdad Provincial Council has called for lasting solutions to pollution-causing facilities, particularly brick factories in the Nahrawan area.