Egypt obtains new funding to implement plastic waste management projects. The funding, $3.57 million, is being provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to promote single-use plastic circular economy practices in Egypt. These include plastic packaging with a thickness of less than 60 microns, as well as bags, water sachets, bottles, cups, etc.
In spite of the existence of a framework law on single-use plastics, (which covers awareness-raising activities and the preparation of technical studies, editor’s note), the urban landscape continues to be polluted by this waste. Single-use plastic has a negative impact on tourism. It also promotes flash floods due to clogged sewage systems and blockage of drainage systems on agricultural land.
The use of recyclable plastic packaging
The JICA-funded project in Egypt will be implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Plastics Technology Centre and the Chamber of Industries. It will last three years.
According to UNIDO, it will support the Egyptian government’s efforts to reduce the amount of plastic waste dumped into the environment by demonstrating alternative, greener approaches through technical assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and by working to raise awareness among stakeholders, including producers and consumers, of the sustainable production and consumption patterns of existing plastics. This multi-level approach is expected to support the development of policies, regulations and economic tools that will facilitate the adoption of greener processes, procurement and business models in the single-use plastics value chain.
“The project will also contribute to the UN Country Partnership Programme (CPP) for Egypt, launched in February 2020,” the UN organisation says. The project aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development in this North African country.
Inès Magoum