26/06/2009
Al-Ahram Al-Ektsady Magazine 2009/JUNE /26
A Chamber of Industry study stated that Cairo is overwhelmed with 16.5 million tons of trash every year. Over 40% of the garbage is organic that could be used in the organic fertilizers industry. Paper and carton trash represents 15%, while plastic wastes totals 6%, metal wastes 4%, glass 2% and the remaining percentage consist of wood and leather trash. Businesspeople, investors, ecologists, and scientists believe trash recycling in Egypt has never been given enough concern and investment. They view it as wasted wealth; part of which is unsafely buried. The other part is smuggled outside the country, usually picked up by China, which re-exports it in its final shape for domestic consumption.(Available in Arabic – German in PDF )
A Chamber of Industry study stated that Cairo is overwhelmed with 16.5 million tons of trash every year. Over 40% of the garbage is organic that could be used in the organic fertilizers industry. Paper and carton trash represents 15%, while plastic wastes totals 6%, metal wastes 4%, glass 2% and the remaining percentage consist of wood and leather trash. Businesspeople, investors, ecologists, and scientists believe trash recycling in Egypt has never been given enough concern and investment. They view it as wasted wealth; part of which is unsafely buried. The other part is smuggled outside the country, usually picked up by China, which re-exports it in its final shape for domestic consumption. Dr. Riad raises questions on the nature of wastes from which we can take advantage or recycle, and on the economic feasibility of recycling and whether recycling plants should be watched