Despite the increasing quantities of solid waste generated in Iraq, the fundamental processes of waste management—namely collection, transportation, sorting, treatment, recycling, and final disposal—have not kept pace with global developments in this field. Moreover, Iraq's lack of clear strategies and standardized plans for dealing with solid waste and the resulting environmental pollution has led to the loss of opportunities to utilize waste as a valuable economic and environmental resource. Large quantities of waste have accumulated in most Iraqi governorates at random collection sites and transfer stations that do not meet environmental standards. Open burning has also become a major source of environmental pollution without achieving any meaningful benefit from the waste itself. To improve the country's economic and service sectors, it has become essential to manage this issue effectively by involving the private sector in converting solid waste into clean energy, with the strategic objective of achieving “Zero Landfill,” similar to practices adopted in many countries around the world. According to data issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, the estimated quantity of waste collected across all governorates in 2020 reached 32,415 tons per day. These waste volumes consume extensive land areas, occupying approximately 9 dunams per day, equivalent to about 3,285 dunams annually. The estimated daily cost of waste collection, removal, and transportation is around 730 million Iraqi dinars, amounting to nearly 260 billion Iraqi dinars annually nationwide. In addition, solid waste is estimated to generate approximately 1,000 tons per day of air-polluting gases. Finding innovative solutions for waste management and treatment has become critically important in the context of climate change. Traditional methods previously adopted in Iraq, particularly landfill disposal, are now considered outdated and incapable of meeting actual treatment needs or environmental requirements. Therefore, waste-to-energy technologies represent a practical and suitable solution for Iraq's current conditions. These technologies can significantly improve public services by integrating waste management, energy production, and environmental protection. Converting waste into energy aligns directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). Such projects transform waste into renewable energy, reduce landfill dependency, enhance environmental sustainability, and support climate action and sustainable urban development. Accordingly, the terms of reference and technical requirements were prepared in accordance with the Iraqi Ministry of Planning's instructions for the Waste-to-Energy Project Model (as an investment project) by Assistant Professor Dr. Adi Al-Maamouri, with the support of a technical team composed of relevant stakeholders. The study was circulated to all Iraqi governorates under the Prime Minister's Office Letter No. 3063/2213182 dated August 16, 2022. Further details of the study are available at: Research Publication on ResearchGate