Algiers – Algeria’s Minister of Environment and Renewable Energies, Fawzia Dahleb, confirmed on Thursday that her ministry is intensifying oversight efforts to ensure active quarries across the country meet environmental standards. The move comes as part of an expanded inspection campaign aimed at minimizing environmental impacts and protecting public health.
Speaking during a public session at the People’s National Assembly, chaired by Vice President Slimane Zarqani and attended by the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Basma Azouar, as well as other government members, Dahleb emphasized the role of provincial environmental departments. These departments will increase field visits to monitor and inspect quarry operations to enforce compliance with environmental regulations.Public Health
Dahleb noted that these inspections are carried out through local committees responsible for monitoring classified establishments, or through joint committees involving specialized entities such as the National Agency for Mining Activities, the Directorate of Energy and Mines, the National Gendarmerie, and local municipalities. These bodies have conducted numerous inspections to assess the environmental impact of quarry operations, identifying and addressing any harmful effects.Public Health
As a result of these inspections, several recommendations were issued to quarries, including regular dust suppression through spraying, reforestation within and around quarry sites, and establishing dedicated highway exits to avoid heavy truck traffic through residential areas, which causes dust pollution. Public Health
Regarding the new draft law on managing household waste, which was approved by the Council of Government in May 2024, Minister Dahleb confirmed that it will soon be presented to Parliament. She noted that the current waste management law, enacted 24 years ago, no longer addresses today’s environmental challenges. The new legislation redefines waste as a resource and promotes its use in a circular economy, where waste materials are treated as valuable raw materials for recycling and reuse. Public Health
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Author: nor-eleslam
Quarry Oversight, Environmental Compliance, Algeria’s New Waste Management Law, Circular Economy, Public Health
