Concrete giant Cemex has signed on Sunday a cooperation protocol with Very Nile Initiative to expand solid waste collection operations from the Nile River. This is part of the principles of waste hierarchy that aims to support the fishing community on Qursaya Island in Cairo. The signing ceremony took place at Kempinski Hotel on the banks of the Nile River. Among the attendees were Eduardo Fragoso, commercial and international cooperation Attaché representing Mexican Ambassador to Cairo Octavio Tripp, Ahmed Amir, diplomatic attaché representing Mohamed Nasr, director of environment and sustainable development department in the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs, Khaled El-Farra, advisor to minister of environment for solid waste management. Within the framework of the initiative, more advanced equipment is to be provided to collect, sort and recycle double the amount of waste. CEMEX will also co-process the rejected waste in its kilns to reach zero waste to landfills. This is in addition to raising awareness among citizens to protect the Nile from the behaviours that lead to its pollution. Under this cooperation protocol, CEMEX is set to grant the capital needed to increase equipment used in waste collection, in addition to contributing to the operating cost to sustain the initiative. The duration of this partnership is three years, during which 17 to 20 tons of marine littres are expected to be collected on a monthly basis. Employment numbers within the fishing community in Qursaya Island will rise from 40 to 80 people. While employment among women working in the upcycling workshop will increase from 8 to 24, and the number of plastic operators will rise from 8 to 12. Commenting on the cooperation protocol and what it represents for Very Nile initiative, Mr. "VeryNile was created with a strong commitment to preserve the Nile by removing plastics and harmful wastes from the river while empowering local communities." Alban de Menonville, President of Bassita, the founder of VeryNile, said. Menonville added that "this partnership will enable us to expand the social and environmental impact of this work on an even larger scale." The initiative comes as part of CEMEX's social impact efforts, represented in value-sharing campaigns and in line with CEMEX's Future in Action Strategy, which tackles climate change. This protocol is of great importance to the Egyptian society because it protects the lifeblood of all Egyptians and serves the biodiversity goals of the aquatic life in the Nile River. In this regard, Carlos Gonzalez, president of CEMEX Egypt and UAE and chairman and managing director of Assiut Cement Company, said: "The remarkable thing about this initiative is its direct and indirect impact on the quality of life and on the environment in Egypt." "We draw a clear line for the lifecycle of solid waste dumped in the Nile, serving the purpose of circular economy and waste hierarchy. Reducing the volume of waste that ends up in sanitary landfills is an important matter for all of us. We are happy that our kilns are the end station for non-recyclable waste and the means to ensure its removal from the ecosystem." Gonzalez added. CEMEX said in its released that it continues to work diligently to move forward in all aspects of its Future in Action Strategy and welcomes partnerships that advance the vision of our company and its stakeholders towards a more sustainable world.
