Dr. Naser Karami is an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research areas include sustainable development and climate change, physical geography, weather and climate change, regional planning, natural resource management, and environmental management. He is a climatologist and one of the most renowned researchers, authors, and journalists in the field of environmental studies. In recent years, through his efforts in publishing news and articles and establishing an independent news agency on environmental issues, he has been able to draw a lot of attention to these issues, especially in the face of the dire environmental situation in Iran. His book “Iran’s Pathfinder”, which is the best-selling book on describing Iran’s geography, is one of his works.

According to reports from environmental activists and the media, waste management in Iran is on the verge of crisis. In an interview with Dr. Karami, the monthly magazine “Peace Line” has explored the causes and roots of this problem,

As an environmental expert, how would you describe the problem of waste disposal in Iran today?

The amount of waste, the way it is disposed of, and its ecological impacts on the environment in Iran can be considered a crisis and a disaster compared to European and modern countries. Its effect in Iran is very important and should be addressed.
If I categorize the issues, the first problem in Iran is drought. Iran is the first country in desertification and soil erosion and is rapidly losing its water resources. We are essentially becoming another country. A land with a different outlook. So this is our number one problem.
Our second problem is destruction and land use change. This means that we quickly occupy virgin lands with unauthorized plans and build on them. We take over national parks and build villas. We have not left any place in the heart of nature and forests untouched. There is systematic corruption in this area in Iran. These are more important than waste. But why?
Any type of pollution can be compensated for. If you stop the release of pollution and then have a plan for cleaning it

Which areas are critical and require immediate action?

Naturally, places with a higher population density also have a higher potential for waste disposal. Places with a higher ecological sensitivity also have a greater impact. The combination of these two means that areas with a high population also have a high ecological sensitivity. For example, the northern provinces of Iran, from Golestan to Mazandaran, Gilan, and Ardabil, which have a dense population, differ from provinces like Kerman, Yazd, and Isfahan. In the northern provinces, there is both a dense population and forested areas. Most of our important animal habitats, which also have great ecological value, are located in these areas. They are our reserves of biodiversity. Places like Golestan National Park or various areas in Mazandaran and Gilan have tourist value. Therefore, in response to your question, if we consider the volume of waste, we can say the outskirts of Tehran. But if we consider ecological factors, it would be the northern region of Iran.

Are there other countries facing a similar issue in terms of economic and technological capabilities, or is this crisis specific to our country?

Waste is not a complicated issue and in fact, we do not have a severe problem with urban waste. Compared to other countries in our region, and even some more developed countries, the situation of urban waste in Iran, especially in Tehran, is more suitable. Tehran’s waste is collected every night. A lot of money is also spent on ensuring that Tehran’s waste is collected and transferred properly. My understanding is that other cities also have a similar system to Tehran. Especially large and metropolitan cities. But our discussion, which is about waste, has three stages; collection, transfer, and finally disposal. In terms of disposal, our situation is very suitable! Of course, not disposal, but rather disposal. In terms of transfer, we do not have an ideal situation. But in terms of collection in urban areas, I know that we are in a good situation.

What are the main reasons for this crisis?

The reason why we are facing a crisis has multiple reasons. One of them is the very bad consumption pattern in our country, which does not match our geographical conditions. For example, an Iranian citizen consumes twice as much water as a European citizen. While the amount of rainfall in Europe cannot be compared to Iran. The same applies to waste. It is said that the ratio of wet waste to dry waste in Iran is two to one. This means that out of every volume of waste produced by an average citizen during the day, two-thirds of it is wet and one-third is dry. In Europe, it is the opposite. Two-thirds is dry and one-third is wet. This shows that food is consumed much more accurately and properly in Europe. Iran is a dry country with a large desert area, and protein is difficult and expensive to produce, so there needs to be more caution in food consumption. In any case, one of the problems is our consumption pattern.

Another problem is the lack of

What are the environmental effects of improper waste disposal and what signs have occurred as a result?

Improper disposal of garbage definitely has negative ecological effects. The widespread distribution of waste affects both the natural environment and the human environment, and can lead to the spread of diseases in the human population. However, the worst case scenario is when waste is dumped in large quantities into the natural environment, creating a new ecosystem. The majority of waste in Iran is organic waste, meaning food that is not fit for human consumption but may be consumed by animals. In such a situation, animals that consume waste thrive and become natural enemies of other species, causing a disruption in the ecological balance and favoring certain species over others. This also creates a breeding ground for various diseases.

What is the current state of waste management as a means of reducing waste, both at the source and in the disposal process, in our country?

Recycling is definitely an important topic, but its effects in Iran are often exaggerated. However, it is the best way to dispose of waste and requires its own culture and lifestyle. In Iran, incomplete work has been done in this area. In the 1970s, some work was done, but unfortunately it was not followed up and remained incomplete. This was because there was no relevant hardware and the city management did not support it. There was also no economic mechanism behind it. Its output was not based on the personal benefit of citizens, and these citizens did not have the necessary and appropriate education. Recycling demands its own cycle. In Iran, for example, there was something called the “Wall of Kindness”. Well, the Wall of Kindness was a form of recycling. You would leave clothes that you didn’t need there for someone else to take and use. There is also an example of this in Norway, where I live. In every neighborhood, there are large boxes. You

In our country, there is potential for recycling to be an opportunity for reducing waste disposal, creating employment, and gaining economic benefits. What plans are necessary?

Recycling is definitely an opportunity for employment and investment. The same issues that were mentioned earlier can be potential subjects for investment. I mean issues like collecting used items or problems with bottles and similar issues. However, in my opinion, the use of the term “dirty gold” in this field has been exaggerated. Recycling is a municipal management responsibility and subsidies should be provided for it. Recycling does not mean that we gather a group of garbage collectors. What is called recycling in Iran is that contracting companies bring child labor from remote villages and expose them to various social harms. This is not humane and it is not recycling. I am completely against these actions. Recycling must be done with appropriate hardware and investment, and by municipal management. It can also be an opportunity for investment. But it must definitely be supervised by municipal management.

Given the presence of different environmental climates in Iran and also the difference in types of waste, what are the modern methods for using this so-called “dirty gold”?

The most important technological task in Iran is working on wet waste, which is a large amount. We must reduce this. It is crucial for a country like Iran to properly consume food. I think we need to be more precise about subsidies. Also, on this type of food consumption and what is being done. For example, we should ask why we have so much bread waste? The method of baking bread in Iran needs to change. What should we do to have less bread waste? Or the waste of vegetables and fruits in Iran is very high. What can be done about this? There must be specific methods to solve these problems. The main form of our waste is wet waste and we must reduce it.

The next step is how to use them and turn them into compost. How can we turn them into a usable substance? There is technology for all of these. And most importantly, the issue of waste disposal. There are waste incinerators and the technology is not expensive. A few

What role can people play in the process of overcoming the waste problem? Have the media and municipalities fulfilled the necessary responsibilities in terms of raising awareness and providing basic facilities for waste separation at the source?

The best solution to the waste problem is to not produce waste at all. This means that the best solution is for us to first focus on reducing the amount of waste we produce. This is mostly related to our lifestyle habits and education. Sometimes, we produce a lot of waste without even realizing it. Let me give you an example. One form of waste production is keeping food in the fridge for too long, which causes its nutritional value to decrease. Let’s say you have half a kilogram of a food item in the fridge. This half kilogram has 200 calories on the first day. But a month later, it will only have 150 calories. And two months later, it will only have 100 calories left. So when you consume this food two months later, you may think you are consuming the same half kilogram, but in reality, you are only consuming half of it. The other half has become worthless.

Most of us do not live in remote deserts where

Is there any hope that before the current situation turns into a full-blown environmental disaster, we can logically solve the problem of waste management?

Garbage is rarely replaced with an irreparable disaster. But it can easily become a problem for our landscapes and living environment. Of course, it can also be easily controlled. It is very wrong for modern humans to not be able to solve such a pressing issue. Only in underdeveloped societies can garbage become an unsolvable problem. I believe our city management should focus more on waste management instead of dealing with social issues that are not relevant to them.

Issues such as garbage and sewage should be the main focus. Unfortunately, city management in Iran has become politicized in the past thirty years and everyone who becomes a mayor in Tehran wants to become the president next. Or in smaller cities, they want to become the governor after being the mayor. Or they want to go to parliament. That’s why they often want to build decorative fountains that catch people’s attention. No one wants to spend money on sewage or garbage. They say it’s not something that people care about. We need to

At the end, if there is any point, please let me know.

I emphasize again that waste is primarily an ethical issue. The amount of waste we produce is directly related to how ethical we are as individuals. Surely those who produce more waste, especially in Iran, are less ethical individuals. This should be openly discussed with people. These issues should be addressed in Iranian society. One of the most important moral virtues of modern humans is to produce less waste, especially less harmful waste.

Thank you for the time you have given to the peace line.