Despite the national and local efforts to tackle the solid waste management crisis in Egypt, the
improper waste handling, storage, collection, treatment and disposal practices still pose serious
environmental and public health risks. The major challenges facing the sector are the inadequate
planning and legislation, resource constraints, institutional deficiencies and the lack of stakeholders'
participation. Recently, the “Annual Report for Solid Waste Management in Egypt, 2013” studies
factors contributing to the SWM systems' failure and recommendations for future perspectives as
commissioned by GIZ and the newly established National Solid Waste Management Programme
(NSWMP) 3.
In 2012, Egypt generated 89.03 million tons of solid waste, including4:
• Municipal solid waste, 21 million tons;
• Agricultural waste, 30 million tons;
• Industrial waste, 6 million tons;
• Hazardous medical waste, 28,300 tons;
• Construction and demolition waste, 4 million tons;
• Waterway cleansing waste, 25 million tons; and
• Sludge, 3 million tons.