Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, welcomed Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Qalyubia, to the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting focused on discussing the mechanisms of implementing World Bank-funded environmental projects and addressing various environmental issues in Qalyubia, with the attendance of Dr. Ali Abu Sena, the Executive Director of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and Mr. Yasser Abdullah, the Head of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad opened the meeting by welcoming the Governor and outlined the current status of the waste collection and transportation system. They addressed the challenges faced by the system in Qalyubia and discussed a range of proposals to resolve these issues and ensure the efficient execution of the waste management system.
Dr. Fouad emphasized that the integrated waste management system is complex, as each region or governorate requires a tailored implementation model. She highlighted the significance of residential waste collection, which is mandated by the Waste Management Regulation Law. This approach helps to preserve waste in its entirety and ensures it reaches designated sorting areas in a more organized manner, maximizing its potential benefits.
Furthermore, Dr. Fouad mentioned that the Ministries of Environment, Social Solidarity, and Labor have worked together to regulate the informal labor force in waste management. Specific standards and regulations have been established to formally register informal workers, provide them with national ID cards, and offer them appropriate social and health insurance coverage. These workers have also received comprehensive training to qualify for certification to practice the profession legally.
Dr. Fouad stressed the importance of outsourcing waste collection and transportation to private sector companies, which are required to hire informal labor and integrate them into the formal system. This measure would help address the issue of informal waste pickers and prevent the improper disposal of valuable waste materials. She also suggested the possibility of collaborating with the World Bank project to support the waste management system in Qalyubia.
On his part, Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Qalyubia, pointed out that the most pressing issue facing the governorate is the widespread practice of street sorting and the emptying of garbage, which recycling plants depend on to process waste. He proposed a return to the home-based collection model to combat this problem.
The Governor also discussed the potential for coordination with the Ministry of Environment to ensure the optimal utilization of waste, including converting waste into energy as a solution to the energy crisis. He emphasized the growing demand for biogas and methane production, particularly from cement factories.
As a result of the discussions, both parties agreed to plan a visit to Qalyubia for the laying of the foundation stone for a waste recycling plant through the World Bank project and to inspect the site in Khanka after its redevelopment and upgrades.
