Planning, Local Development & Environment Ministers sign a contract for the implementation of the 4th Phase of infrastructure projects for the waste system in the governorates.

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, and Major General Hisham Amna, Minister of Local Development, signed a contract to implement the fourth phase of the infrastructure for the solid waste system in the governorates, for EGP 1 billion.The signing took place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Cabinet in the New Administrative Capital.The contract that was signed includes the implementation of 9 safe sanitary dumps, including 2 in the Matrouh Governorate in the El Alamein and Siwa regions, a dump in the Sheikh Zuweid region in North Sinai, 3 dumps in the Red Sea Governorate in the regions of Qusayr, Halayeb and Shalatin, a dump in the Ras Sidr region in South Sinai, and 2 dumps in the Sohag Governorate in the cities of Sohag and Juhayna. The contract calls for removing and disposing of historical accumulations of waste amounting to 2.1 million tons in all governorates.After signing the contract, the Ministers of Planning, Environment, and Local Development reviewed the executive position of the previously contracted works regarding the municipal solid waste system. This includes fixed and mobile intermediate stations and safe sanitary dumps. The implementation rate of those works exceeded 75%, which included removing accumulations from 42 sites and supplying mobile intermediate stations. There are 87 stations, as well as 18 fixed intermediate stations.On her part, Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said that the solid waste management system is one of the most critical mechanisms for achieving development goals related to the environment within the framework of the international goals as well as the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030, adding that it contributes to achieving sustainability of environmental resources.El-Said stressed the keenness of the Ministry of Planning to support the system and work with partner ministries to ensure implementation of the highest quality.El-Said added that the proposed system provides sources of clean energy through recycling technology that aims to generate energy, as well as providing new job opportunities for a large sector of youth.For his part, Major General Hisham Amna indicated the keenness of the Ministry of Local Development to advance the implementation of projects and overcome any challenges in this regard, in implementation of the directives of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, regarding raising the efficiency of the system, overcoming the problems of waste accumulation and safe disposal, and stopping environmental deterioration.The Minister of Local Development confirmed that the government is racing against time to expedite the implementation of the executive plan for the waste system at the highest level. This will bring about a major change in the level of cleanliness on Egyptian streets. It will overcome all problems and challenges related to garbage and its safe disposal through a comprehensive system for integrated waste management.Major General Hisham Amna explained that the past period witnessed the completion of several waste infrastructure projects in the governorates and the removal of millions of tons of historical and daily generated garbage estimated at 280 million tons to preserve the health and safety of citizens and preserve the environment.For her part, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, confirmed that the revised system for waste management focuses on the role of rational waste management in limiting the increasing effects of climate change, especially in light of the role that Egypt plays as chair of the current climate conference COP27, which sheds light for the first time in climate conferences on waste management.Waste is the main component of reducing the effects of climate change. It presents an imperative message to the world about the importance of the waste file and its impact on the volume of emissions causing climate change. To solve this problem, countries need to cooperate and transfer modern technologies, according to FouadThe Minister of the Environment stressed the state’s keenness to support the recycling of waste, treatment, and safe disposal of it, and work to implement a sustainable plan to close random dumps and eliminate accumulations, by establishing a group of dedicated recycling factories, raising the efficiency of existing factories, and establishing sanitary landfills and intermediate stations on more than one stage covering all governorates.The Minister of Environment drew attention to the planning, regulatory, and oversight role of the Waste Management Regulatory Agency in the Ministry, as it is the technical body concerned with following up on the approval of engineering designs for facilities, following up implementation and delivery, and ensuring compliance with all environmental requirements stipulated in the Environment Law, in addition to the rest of the tasks stipulated in Waste Regulation Law No. 202 of 2020. Where the Minister of Environment stressed the Ministry’s continued efforts in cooperation with the ministries and concerned authorities to complete the implementation of the infrastructure for the redesigned waste system, and in implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic regarding raising the efficiency of the waste system to overcome the problems of waste accumulation and safe disposal.