Egypt courts private investment for recycling, organic fertilizer projects

EGYPT – Egypt is stepping up efforts to attract private sector capital into its waste management sector, with a new initiative to support recycling and organic fertilizer production.

Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, met with Mohamed El-Hanawi, CEO of a leading real estate group, to explore potential cooperation in recycling urban waste generated by the company’s residential cities and compounds.

According to a ministry statement, Awad emphasized that the government is committed to expanding private sector participation in operating and managing waste recycling infrastructure.

She noted that private investments would complement the billions of Egyptian pounds spent on public waste projects in recent years, while accelerating the country’s transition to a more sustainable model.

As part of the discussions, Awad highlighted the possibility of allocating land within the integrated waste management complex in 10th of Ramadan City for the project.

Plans include a biogas unit to produce organic fertilizer, supporting Egypt’s national strategy to expand agricultural exports through sustainable practices and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.

El-Hanawi outlined the company’s proposal to build a EGP 650 million (US$13.5 million) recycling facility, which would use locally manufactured machinery to process household, garden, and treatment plant waste.

The output would supply organic fertilizers for use across the group’s landscaped areas and green spaces, creating a closed-loop sustainability model within its real estate developments.

The meeting was also attended by Ali Abou Sena, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, alongside senior officials from the Ministries of Environment and Local Development.

Egypt generates an estimated 26 million tonnes of waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills or open dumpsites.

While the government has rolled out several initiatives to improve collection and recycling rates, private sector involvement is seen as essential to scaling infrastructure and technology.

The focus on organic fertilizers is particularly timely, as global markets increasingly favor produce grown with sustainable inputs, offering Egyptian exporters a competitive edge.

The discussions reflect Egypt’s broader push to align waste management with its Vision 2030 strategy and commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Analysts say that if realized, the project could serve as a model for other public-private partnerships in the recycling and agri-waste sectors, while helping to unlock the untapped value in the country’s urban waste streams.

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