EGYPT – Egyptian subsidiary of the German food company Lorenz Snack-World has signed a partnership deal with Plastic Bank to reduce plastic waste and prevent it from reaching seas and rivers.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Egypt generates an average of 270,000 tonnes of plastic waste out of the 570,000 tonnes that cross the Mediterranean each year.

Under the alliance, the two partners will collect more than one million single-use plastic bottles in several governorates of Egypt. The new initiative also aims to improve the living conditions of coastal communities.

The operation, which will be carried out in several Egyptian governorates such as Cairo, aims to improve the living conditions of coastal communities.

“Plastic Bank is keen to forge new collaborations with reputable partners to contribute in finding solutions for several social issues, and improving living conditions of plastic collectors, as well as eradicating plastic waste in Egypt,” said Amr El-Kady, Plastic Bank’s regional director for Egypt, Middle East and Africa.

“We are delighted to cooperate with Lorenz Snack World – Egypt, one of the major international food manufacturers, who shares with us the same vision towards environmental sustainability and social development and aims to support the circular economy model in Egypt.”

For his part, Lorenz Snack-World’s General and Financial Director in Egypt, Abdulla Ezzat, suggested that his company will provide plastic waste collectors with basic necessities for their families, including food, in exchange for their waste.

Founded in 1899, the company has over 3,000 employees and exports its crisp ranges to over 80 countries.

In 2020, the Egyptian government allocated 12 billion Egyptian pounds (more than US$641 million) for the establishment of a waste management system aimed at eliminating several landfills and recovering energy from waste across the country.

In Cairo, this budget allowed for the establishment of two recycling kiosks where Cairo residents could exchange their waste, including cans, tins and plastic bottles, for cash.

Two years later, the Cairo city authorities are planning to hand over the supervision of municipal waste management to a private company by 2023.

The company will be responsible for monitoring the collection, transportation, sanitation, treatment and disposal of solid waste in this governorate of 10 million people.

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