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Italy, Egypt to set up modern waste recycling station in Menya under EGP 70.5 m deal
Egypt and Italy signed an EGP 70.5 million deal to implement the third stage of a waste management program in the Upper Egypt govenorate of Menya.
The fund will be allocated for boosting the governorate’s capability of solid waste management though offering technical assistance, raising awareness about the best methods of solid wastes recycling, and establishing a new recycling station.
Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said that the agreement falls within the framework of the Egyptian-Italian debt-swap program for development, at a total value of €300 million.
She underlined that the government gives a top priority for promoting development and investment in the environmental sector.
She also stressed Egypt’s commitment to development framework agreements with its international partners and has come up with stories of success in attaining SDGs, especially with regard to protecting the environment and creating jobs for youths.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said the ministry is coordinating efforts with the Local Development Ministry to carry out the recycling mechanism which requires preparing the needed infrastructure, drawing up waste collection system, securing safe landfills and establishing waste recycling factories.
The ministry will launch a campaign for collecting the largest amount of waste to recycle more and dispose less in landfills, she said, urging people to cooperate with the ministry to render the new mechanism successful.
Local Development Minister Mahmoud Sharaawy said the ministry is cooperating with all the ministries concerned to realize a quantum leap in ditching waste.
He added that the ministry is open up for all international partners to draw on their expertise in solid waste recycling.
Shaarawy hailed the inking of the agreement as allowing Egypt to benefit from Italian expertise in waste management, noting that two waste recycling factories should be set up in Menya.
He noted that a group of youths are running the waste management factory in Adwa area with daily capacity of 300 tons.
He added that these projects contributed to creating jobs for youths and establishing small and medium size industries in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
He noted that the ministry is offering all needed support for all governorates to promote sustainable management of solid waste.
Italian Ambassador in Egypt Giampaolo Cantini said that the joint debt exchange program focuses on achieving sustainable development and incentivizing economic growth in Egypt.
The agreement crowns the success of the first two stages which managed to recycle 300 tons of waste daily.
The agreement will fund the establishment of a recycling station which will raise the recycling capacity to 500 tons per day, he said, noting that this would definitely improve Egypt’s environment in line with the country’s economic reform program.
Meanwhile, manager of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Egypt Randa Abo El-Hassan commended the significant steps taken by Egypt in tandem with the UNDP in the field of environment protection.
She added that the new agreement is a continuation of this fruitful cooperation.
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