Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution

Egypt approved new licensing rules for construction and demolition waste companies and cut fees for rice straw collection as part of efforts to strengthen environmental oversight and reduce pollution, the Environment Ministry said Tuesday.

The Waste Management Regulatory Authority (WMRA) will issue independent licences to firms in the sector, linking them to a monitoring system designed to stop dumping outside approved sites. The regulator also endorsed amendments to permits and appeals procedures under Waste Law No. 202 of 2020.

The government is lowering fees for rice straw collection to push contractors to gather the residue rather than burn it, a practice that has fueled seasonal smog.

The decisions were adopted at the latest board meeting chaired by Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad. The session also reviewed the Japan-funded Port Said’s Waste Reduction pilot project, which targets plastic use, with plans to replicate it across other governorates.

Minister Awad directed coordination with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to allocate designated collection sites across new urban and industrial areas.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser