National Solid Waste Management Programme (NSWMP)

The National Solid Waste Management Programme (NSWMP) is a transformative development initiative launched in 2017 to establish an integrated and sustainable waste management system across Egypt, addressing urban and rural needs with unique focus on environmental protection along with socio-economic inclusion.

The NSWMP aims to revolutionize Egypt’s waste management sector by promoting circular economy, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting socio-economic development. It seeks to improve waste infrastructure and integrate private sector engagement, community participation, and renewable energy technologies.It envisions to create an “integrated, sustainable waste management system that protects public health, safeguards the environment, and fosters inclusive green economic growth through sustainable practices and institutional reform”. The NSWMP initiative operates across 11 governorates, benefiting over 30 million citizens.

To implement this vision, the initiative applies a national master plan supported by four pillars, policy reform, capacity building, public-private partnerships, and community engagement strategies. It is a flagship project under the EU-Egypt Climate Action Cooperation, aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the EU’s Green Economy Partnership.

The nationwide master plan encompasses:

• Pilot projects in areas like Kafr El Sheikh processing over 1,000 tons of municipal waste daily.
• Infrastructure: Includes 15 transfer stations, 20 composting plants, and 12 biogas plants, 8 of which are operational. to divert 60% of waste from landfills.
• Energy integration: Construction of biogas plants a 1 MW solar power system to convert organic waste into energy.
• Community impact: 500,000 citizens reached with over 50 awareness,
and 3,000 informal waste pickers integrated into the formal system.

• Diversion rate: reducing total landfill waste by 50% and diverting 60% of municipal waste from landfills by 2025.

The programme emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and advanced technology (e.g., solar energy, biogas) integrating renewable energy and waste-to-resource with traditional, community-led waste practices, valuing local ownership, gender inclusion, and economic empowerment of informal workers.

Led by Egypt’s Ministry of Environment, the NSWMP is co-funded by the EU (€90 million) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) (€15 million).

Implementation partners include GIZ, Chemonics, and local municipalities. The project follows three phases:
• Phase 1 (2017–2020): Legal/policy frameworks and pilot infrastructure in 4 governorates.
• Phase 2 (2021–2023): Expansion to 7 additional governorates, private sector integration.
• Phase 3 (2023–2025):Full national rollout, operationalization of 20 composting plants and 8 biogas facilities.