Definition
A circular economy is a production and consumption model that designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use as long as possible, and regenerates natural systems. Unlike the traditional linear model of take-make-dispose, the circular economy emphasises reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling. It aims to decouple economic growth from finite resource consumption. Strategies include product-as-a-service models, industrial symbiosis where one firm’s waste becomes another’s feedstock, and extended producer responsibility schemes.
Context in Oman
Oman’s Be’ah (Oman Environmental Services Holding Company) leads the country’s waste-management transformation. Be’ah is developing engineered landfills, materials-recovery facilities, and waste-to-energy plants to replace open dumpsites. A tyre-recycling plant in Liwa and a medical-waste treatment facility in Barka demonstrate early circular practices. The Sohar industrial zone promotes industrial symbiosis, where petrochemical by-products serve as inputs for downstream manufacturers. Oman has also banned single-use plastic bags to reduce marine and land pollution.
Connection to Vision 2040
Vision 2040 supports circular-economy principles as part of its environmental sustainability pillar. Reducing waste to landfill, increasing recycling rates, and promoting green manufacturing align with Oman’s net-zero ambitions and resource-efficiency goals. The strategy encourages private-sector investment in waste valorisation and green building materials. Circular practices also reduce import dependency by creating domestic supply chains for secondary raw materials, contributing to national economic resilience.
Key Facts
Be’ah manages waste services across all eleven governorates of Oman. Oman generates approximately 2.5 million tonnes of solid waste annually. The single-use plastic bag ban took effect in January 2021. Sohar’s industrial zone practises industrial symbiosis among over 100 companies. The Barka waste-to-energy project is designed to process 1,000 tonnes of waste per day. Oman targets diverting 60 percent of waste from landfills by 2030.