Arid and semi-arid cities face increasing challenges related to climate change and resource scarcity; sustainable environmental architecture has emerged as a vital approach to address these pressing issues. This chapter explores recent approaches to sustainable environmental architecture in arid and semi-arid cities, focusing on two key aspects: sustainable building materials and sustainable waste management strategies. With plastic waste accounting for a significant portion of urban and rural waste, totaling approximately 5.4 million tons annually, addressing the environmental hazards and health risks associated with plastic pollution is imperative. This study highlights the importance of reducing and recycling plastic waste generated and how to mitigate plastic pollution by implementing low-tech and open-source plastic recycling technologies specifically designed for emerging countries. It will be through the inclusion of case studies showcasing successful implementations of these technologies in architecture and construction. The study also provides recommendations based on the findings from the literature review, data analysis, and technology evaluation.