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Egypt launches its 1st E-Tadweer app for e-waste management
Egypt launched its first E-Tadweer application for e-waste management so that citizens can safely get rid of electronic waste. Moreover, the application will be encouraging and in order to encourage them to use the app they will safely in return for points that can be exchanged for new electronic apparatuses.
Ministers Amr Talaat of Communication Amr Talaat and Yasmine Fouad of Environment announced the launch of the application on Tuesday within the framework of a meeting on spearheading the second stage of electronic waste management program which is being implemented in tandem with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Switzerland.
Communications and IT Ministry’s efforts in e-waste management:
Minister Amr Talaat said ditching electronic waste is a wide-scale process that would generate jobs for youths, noting that electronic waste would include electronic apparatuses and equipment.
He added that the ministry is working on spearheading a number of awareness campaigns about means of getting rid of e-waste in a safe way.
The ministry focuses on safe discharge of waste of the sectors of communication, banks and governmental bodies, he said.
He added that coordination is underway with the Central Bank of Egypt, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority and the General Authority of Government Services of the Finance Ministry to lay down a framework for getting rid of old computers of the banking, communication and governmental sectors.
Environmental overtures:
For her part, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said facilities for collecting e-waste are ready for operation and fit out with all needed equipment for safe management of e-waste.
She added that the ministry is about to finalize a database of e-waste in Egypt, noting that the ministry is holding continued contacts with all the ministries concerned to magnify the benefit and environmental initiatives.
Meanwhile, Khaled El Attar, the communications minister’s deputy and the supervisor of waste recycling program, said Silicon Waha – a leading joint stock company for managing new technological zones – will be in charge of selecting small and medium sized companies which are specialized in the recycling domain to engage in the project.
Cooperation with Switzerland:
In March 2016, the Communications and IT Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swiss embassy in Cairo to enhance bilateral cooperation to support e-waste recycling industries in Egypt within the framework of the ministry’s plan to contribute to upgrading Sustainable Development policies and giving momentum to economic growth through encouraging investments in the eco-friendly communication and IT industries.
The ministry also seeks to develop national policies for recycling and sustainable development of e-waste in Egypt in addition to raising awareness among people about eco-friendly communications and IT.
The ministry also works on training cadres specialized in the green communication and IT score.
The memorandum of understanding is meant to buttress sustainable management of e-waste as well as small and medium sized enterprises in addition to encouraging recycling industries.
The recycling of e-waste can also lead to magnifying the benefit of precious minerals which exist in electronic apparatuses.
Under the memo, programs for honing youths’ skills in the field of e-waste management in addition to developing an accreditation system of the companies operating in the e-waste recycling score.
Also, a bill on sustainable management of e-waste would be prepared.
UNDP, Egypt cooperation in environmental, waste management projects:
In 2015, the Ministry of Environment in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the technical support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has succeeded in obtaining a new package of grants from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) worth $11 million to implement three projects within the national environmental priorities and promote Egypt’s partnership with the international community as regards to the implementation of international environmental conventions. Additionally, the Government of Italy has provided $4 million to implement the Third Phase of the Egyptian-Italian Environmental Cooperation Program (EIECP), which is implemented under the supervision of UNDP. These projects are planned to attract investments from the private sector.
This package includes a safe health and electronic waste management program in order to reduce emissions of harmful solid organic pollutants. This program is implemented by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Communications and Information Technology. The second project aims to increase the locally-manufactured component in the micro-photovoltaic cell units and deploy their use on rooftops of private and public facilities to generate electricity and complement and invest the state’s efforts in promoting renewable energy technologies in Egypt. The Ministry of Industry will implement the project in coordination with the Ministries of Environment and Electricity and Renewable Energy.
While the third project is concerned with national reporting on greenhouse gas emissions in order to fulfill Egypt’s obligations towards the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The fourth project deals with the protection of nature and the promotion of eco-tourism, and aims to develop the most promising sites in Egypt’s natural reserves such as Siwa, Wadi El Gemmal, Wadi El Rayan and the White Desert, in the fast-growing niche that eco-tourism represents worldwide.
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