Yasser Abdalla, CEO of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority (WMRA), said the state – in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries – will impose restrictions on the production process in the coming months with an aim to cut plastic waste.

He said the measure is meant to reduce plastic bag usage, in addition to offering incentives to companies and hypermarket chains that commit to shifting toward more sustainable alternatives.

He made the remarks during the 7th Forum on Strategies for Transition to Green Economy – dubbed the 7th Green Economy Forum – which kicked off on Tuesday under the theme of “The Transition C-Panel”.

He said the WMRA has achieved significant benefits from waste by converting it into green products, as part of the state’s efforts to promote the green economy.

In recent years, the WMRA has established important principles to organize the process, topped by the principle of social responsibility and the extended producer responsibility (EPR), which requires companies to recycle their products in cooperation with the state, thereby positively contributing to the development of this mechanism.

He pointed out that the volume of waste in Egypt exceeds 100 million tons annually, thus representing a substantial environmental and economic challenge.

Abdalla explained that recent studies have revealed that Egypt consumes around 14 billion plastic bags annually, and 72% of the raw materials used in production are imported from abroad, representing an economic and environmental burden on the country.

Over the past year, the Egyptian state has effectively carried out efforts to set the strong basis for the waste management system, especially agricultural waste, noting the increasing awareness among farmers regarding the risks of burning this type of waste—an important step toward achieving a more sustainable environment.