Egypt inaugurates US$5M Green Recycle plant in Sokhna with 8,000T annual plastic processing capacity

EGYPT – Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has inaugurated the Green Recycle plastic recycling plant in the Sokhna Integrated Industrial Zone within the TEDA-Egypt industrial developer, a US$5 million facility built on a 30,000-square-metre site with an annual production capacity of 8,000 tonnes, expected to create around 50 direct jobs.

The plant aims to maximize the utilization of plastic waste by recycling it into products of economic value, supporting local industry with high-quality, competitively priced recycled raw materials. 

Emad El-Adawy, chairman of Green Recycle, noted that the project will also contribute to reducing environmental pollution while creating additional employment opportunities across collection, sorting, and manufacturing activities, and is expected to support exports and generate foreign currency inflows.

Aligning with Green Economy Policies

Madbouly stated that the project aligns with the state’s direction toward adopting green economy policies and strengthening environmental sustainability. 

He added that the government is encouraging investments in recycling and waste management, describing them as promising sectors that deliver integrated economic and environmental returns while contributing to reducing pollution and improving quality of life.

The inauguration was part of Madbouly’s tour to launch new industrial projects within the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).

Strengthening Local Supply Chains

Waleid Gamal El-Dien, chairman of SCZONE, said the Green Recycle project reflects the zone’s success in attracting investments that support the transition toward a circular economy and improve resource efficiency. 

He added that the facility will provide recycled production inputs for multiple industries, strengthening local supply chains and reducing reliance on imported raw materials. 

He also highlighted the project’s role in reducing environmental pollution and raising awareness of recycling, noting that the economic zone continues to attract environmentally focused investments that balance economic growth with sustainability objectives.

Why This Matters for Egypt’s Recycling Sector

Egypt generates approximately 30 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, of which only an estimated 20 percent is formally collected and less than 10 percent is recycled. 

The Sokhna plant’s 8,000 tonne annual capacity represents a small but significant addition to formal recycling infrastructure, particularly for plastic waste which constitutes a large portion of unmanaged urban refuse. 

By producing recycled raw materials for local industry, the plant reduces the need for virgin plastic imports, saving foreign currency and lowering the carbon footprint of Egyptian manufacturing.

When Plastic Waste Becomes Import Replacement

A recycling plant that produces 8,000 tonnes of material per year is not just an environmental facility, it is a trade balance intervention. 

Every tonne of recycled plastic used in Egyptian manufacturing is one tonne not imported. Green Recycle’s Sokhna plant is small, but its logic is strategic: reduce pollution, create jobs, and save foreign currency with the same investment.

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