Urban waste management is an issue of growing concern in cities and towns in the Mediterranean region, and Tunisia is no exception. In the northeastern city of M'Saken, the local government is taking steps to improve its waste management system. Currently, the city faces several challenges, such as the absence of a waste management and recovery plan, the lack of a source separation system and the absence of a transfer centre. In addition, there are problems of illegal dumping in both urban and rural areas, as well as high fuel costs due to the distance to the landfill.

Every year, the municipality of M’saken sends more than 20.000 tonnes of waste to the Oued Laya controlled landfill, which is managed by the country's National Waste Management Agency. The quantities collected vary according to the season. During the summer, the amount of waste collected is higher, mainly due to the increase in population when the M'Saken citizens living abroad come back. Thus, the amount collected during this season is 2.054 tonnes per month, compared to 1.424 tonnes per month during the rest of the year.

To address these challenges, the local government of M'Saken participates in the Med4Waste mentoring scheme. In the framework of this programme, they will have the opportunity to directly access pilot experiences already implemented throughout the Mediterranean region and to collaborate with external experts on a more efficient and sustainable waste management system. This pilot experiences from previously funded ENI CBC Med projects like DECOST.

In the coming years, its aim is to reduce waste production at source, implement source separation and recycling, and raise public awareness of waste management.

The mentoring scheme, coordinated by MedCities, will also be a chance to facilitate information exchange between M'Saken and other cities involved in the program, as the also Tunisian city of Mahdia, the municipalities of Madaba and Berain in Jordan, or the Lebanese municiplaities of Akkar Al-Atikka and Deir Qanoun AlNaher. Additionally, BusinessMed, Tunisian partner of Med4Waste, will provide mentorship to local SMEs or start-ups to develop innovative solutions that will contribute to the achievement of the town's waste management objectives.