EGYPT – The Gharbia Governorate has signed a contract with Zero Carbon Sustainable Development Company to manage and operate the solid waste recycling and treatment plant in Dafra.

This agreement also covers waste treatment and recycling services, as well as the transfer of non-recyclable waste to the sanitary landfill in Sadat.

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, and Major General Ashraf El-Gendy, Governor of Gharbia.

The contract, signed at the Ministry of Local Development’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, marks a key step in Egypt’s push for an integrated solid waste management system.

Zero Carbon will operate the plant, which uses three production lines to generate refuse-derived fuel (RDF). This facility is part of a broader initiative led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to modernize the country’s waste management infrastructure.

Dr. Yasmine Fouad highlighted the state’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the waste management system by implementing cleaning system fees at both the governorate and urban community levels.

She emphasized the need for continued collaboration to ensure waste is properly delivered to the facility to support Zero Carbon’s operations.

Gharbia’s waste management complex, which includes three treatment plants, has been upgraded to handle 1,920 tonnes of solid municipal waste daily.

This initiative addresses the increasing waste generation and the unique challenges faced by the governorate in waste collection and transportation.

The National Municipal Solid Waste Program, in collaboration with the German government, German Development Bank, GIZ, and the European Union, supports waste management efforts in Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Assiut, and Qena. The program’s second phase focuses on building infrastructure and developing capacity.

Dr. Manal Awad emphasized the government’s priority of engaging private sector companies in managing the waste system and preserving state investments.

Recently, similar contracts were signed between the governorates of Qena and Sohag with the Misr Cement Group to manage waste treatment plants.

Gharbia has made significant progress in its waste management efforts, with projects costing 275 million EGP, funded by the Ministry of Local Development.

These include establishing a recycling and treatment plant in El-Mahalla El-Kubra and removing 775,000 tons of historical waste from various centers.

Major General Ashraf El-Gendy reiterated the importance of preserving the environment and ensuring safe waste disposal, highlighting the successful partnership between the government and the private sector.

The recycling plant in El-Mahalla serves as a model for future projects to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development.

Zero Carbon CEO Eng. Karim El-Sabaa expressed the company’s commitment to further expanding its operations in Egypt, aiming to process approximately one million tonnes of waste annually.

The company, known for producing alternative fuels for the cement industry and developing organic fertilizers, plans to invest 500 million EGP in new projects by 2025.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE