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Bulldozer working on a landfill site in a rocky desert landscape, pushing and leveling piles of waste between surrounding hills.Bulldozer working on a landfill site in a rocky desert landscape, pushing and leveling piles of waste between surrounding hills.

Improving Solid Waste Management in Egypt

CDM Smith supported the authorities in the governorates of Assiut and Qena in establishing a demand-driven, cost-covering and sustainable waste management system.

Client

Waste Management Regulatory Authority

Location

Governorates of Assiut and Qena, Egypt

Connect with an expert

Person in a black suit jacket and light blue shirt stands indoors.
Eric Kalmbach
Division Manager

Challenges of Waste Management in Qena and Assiut

Initial situation

In 2012, Egyptian industries, agriculture and households generated more than a tonne of waste per capita per year. A substantial amount of the waste went untreated into rivers or onto roads and outdoor areas, with only about 60% of the waste collected, less than 20% of which was properly disposed of or recycled. 

Objective of the measure

The inadequate waste management infrastructure not only endangers the environment, but also human health. Therefore, the primary objective for the region is to make waste disposal more efficient and environmentally friendly. 

Implementing Modern Waste Management Systems

The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ),  in cooperation with the European Commission (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economics (SECO) finalised an agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment on a National Solid Waste Management Programme for Egypt. The programme's aim is to enhance the solid waste management on a national, as well as on a regional and local level, by improving the effec­tive­ness of technical facilities, developing and strength­en­ing the insti­tu­tional capacities, and introducing financial tools for sustainable solid waste management. The German federal government has provided financial support to the programme in the form of a joint project between the public development financing organ­i­sa­tion (KfW) and the Society for Inter­na­tional Cooperation (GIZ).

Treatment facility in Taramsa (Qena Governorate)


Professionalisation of waste collection

CDM Smith led a consortium supporting the national Waste Management Regulatory Authority, as well as local solid waste management units in the governorates Assiut and Qena, in developing an econom­i­cally viable and sustainable waste management system tailored to local require­ments. Our scope included reviewing existing master plans, developing new ones, and providing training for local waste management authorities. In addition, we fostered cooperation among the different stake­hold­ers, advised the authorities on introducing new economic instruments, and designed solutions for more effective waste collection and transport. 
 

Delivered self-compaction trailer (under operation test) - Assiut Governorate

In the meantime, the planning phase was completed, during which master plans for waste disposal in the two governorates in Upper Egypt were developed. Following this, the following facilities were planned, tendered, and supervised during the immediate implementation phase:

 

  • Five transfer stations in both governorates.

  • One municipal solid waste landfill and a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) facility in Qena Governorate.
  • Rehabilitation of an existing RDF plantin Quosiya (Assiut Governorate).
  • One municipal solid waste landfill and a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) facility in Assiut Governorate, currently under implementation.

 

Deliver equipment ot Assiut and Qena Governorates

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