Egypt’s solid waste management system has made considerable strides in recent years thanks to close collaboration between the government,parliament,and private sector,according to an declaration made on Wednesday by Egypt’s Minister of Environment,Yasmine fouad. The nation’s recycling rate has jumped from 10% in 2018 to 37% in 2024,with ambitions to reach 60% by 2027.

During a session of the Local management Committee in Parliament-chaired by MP Ahmed El-Sigini and attended by key ministers and officials-Fouad highlighted the Waste management Law (Law 202/2020) as crucial for introducing circular economy practices and boosting private sector involvement.

Private Sector Expansion in Waste Management

“When we began, there were only two private contracts in the recycling sector. Today, we have 36 contracts across the value chain-from collection and transportation to processing and recycling,” Fouad noted.

“Parliament has been a committed partner in this journey as 2015,”

She emphasized the increasing role of the private sector in waste-to-energy initiatives, such as landfill gas recovery and sludge-to-power generation. A government-approved feed-in tariff, coordinated with the ministries of electricity, housing, and local advancement, is anticipated to further encourage investment in this field.

Key projects include the landfill gas recovery initiative at the Salam landfill site and the sludge-to-energy conversion project at the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant.

Funding and Extended Producer Responsibility

Addressing funding challenges, Fouad advocated for the full implementation of financing mechanisms within the law, including allocations from property taxes, surpluses from the Local Development Fund, and Extended Producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.

She highlighted the launch of Egypt’s first EPR initiative in February, initially focused on single-use plastic bags and later expanding to packaging materials and metal products. These measures are projected to create a consistent revenue stream for the waste management system.

Fouad also noted the financial recovery of the waste Management Regulatory agency,which has become an economic authority with a surplus of EGP 45m.

The minister reviewed advancements in the signing and execution of waste collection and recycling service contracts across Egypt and addressed vital infrastructure needs in Giza and Qalyubeya governorates.

Committee Chair El-Sigini commended Fouad on her recent appointment to a prominent international environmental post and praised her leadership in addressing Egypt’s long-standing waste issues.