Egypt currently produces over 95 million tonnes of waste annually, of which only 60% is collected, and less than 20% of that is properly disposed of or recycled. Moreover, the country lacks a formalised system for waste collection and recycling.
In response to this challenge, a new partnership has been formed between packaging firm SIG, social enterprise Plastic Bank, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to reshape Egypt’s recycling landscape.
Waste collection
Over a three-year period, the three partners aim to collect 700 metric tonnes of beverage cartons while simultaneously enhancing the livelihoods of local waste collection members.
The programme will utilise the PlasticBank app, supported by a blockchain-secured platform, to ensure traceability and transparency in waste collection. This approach empowers waste collectors to transform every discarded material into a source of revenue.
According to SIG, by streamlining and tracking the collection and recycling of waste, it will be able to lay the groundwork for an extended producer responsibility (EPR) model in Egypt.
The project is in line with the efforts of the Egypt Waste Management Regulatory Authority to integrate recycling into the country’s legislative framework. Additionally, it receives support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funding program develoPPP, as well as its Decent Work for a Just Transition initiative.
‘Circular economy’
“Our new partnership goes one step further in accelerating our progress towards a circular economy,” commented Abdelghany Eladib, president and general manager, India, Middle East and Africa at SIG.
“Extending social waste collection and recycling programs like this one in Egypt will help to achieve our goals and is a blueprint for future programs. By establishing a recycling system for beverage cartons in the Greater Cairo area and beyond, SIG is focused on reducing the environmental impact und creating a market for recycled paper.” Read more here.
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