Egypt has launched a waste reduction project in Port Said Governorate in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aiming to improve solid waste management and cut single-use plastics, the environment ministry said on Thursday. The four-year project, running until June 2028, will be carried out by the ministry of local development, the ministry of environment's Waste Management Regulatory Authority (WMRA), and Port Said Governorate, the statement added. Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad said the initiative seeks to enhance recycling, particularly of plastics, support local recycling businesses, and develop a model that can be replicated nationwide. The project will focus on household waste collection and source separation, training programmes, and awareness campaigns to encourage alternatives to plastic bags, while also boosting local recycling capacity and workforce skills. Awad noted that the plan complements Egypt's Waste Law No. 202 of 2020, under which the WMRA oversees planning and regulation of the sector. The Port Said scheme will serve as a pilot for a nationwide rollout of integrated waste management practices across other governorates, the minister added. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
