Iraq has deployed its first smart waste collection system in Karbala, covering 17 areas. The underground network moves waste from homes to transfer stations, cutting reliance on collection trucks and their emissions. The project is a joint effort by the National Investment Authority, Ministry of Environment, and Spanish support, with waste sorted for recycling and energy generation. Residents dispose of waste through in-home openings, and the system separates recyclables and other materials. Officials link the initiative to reducing air pollution and carbon emissions, while Karbala also plans to integrate it into a broader smart city project. The province handles over 750,000 tons of waste during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, so the system could ease that seasonal burden. The rollout includes education on source separation, which the article notes is currently weak in Iraq. If other provinces adopt similar systems, the emissions and logistics savings could scale, but the practical challenges around maintenance and public behavior remain to be seen.
