Assessment of WEEE Management in Egypt

Assessment of WEEE Management in Egypt
Submitted by:
EcoConServ Environmental Solutions
January 2017
Submitted to:
United Nation Development program (UNDP)
For
The project “Protect human health and the environment from unintentional releases
of POPs originating from incineration and open burning of health care and electronic
waste”
Of
Global Environmental Facility (GEF)

This study is part of the inception phase of “Protect human health and the environment from
unintentional releases of POPs originating from incineration and open burning of health care and
electronic waste” project being implemented by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with
the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology (MCIT) with the technical support of United Nation Development
Program as mandated by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). This report prepared by
EcoConServ environmental solutions (local consultancy firm).

Presented to:
United Nation Development Program
Att: Dr.Mohamed Bayoumi
UNDP Assistant Resident
Submitted by:
EcoConServ Environmental Solutions
12 El-Saleh Ayoub St., Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt 11211
Tel: +2 02 2735 9078 – +2 02 2736 4818
Fax: + 2 02 2736 5397
E-mail: genena@ecoconserv.com
URL: http/www.ecoconserv.com
Assessment of WEEE Management In
Egypt
Final Report
January 2017

Acknowledgement of Contributors and Peer Reviewers
The authors would like to thank the interviewed stakeholders for their contribution with this study.
Special thanks go to Dr.Tarek M.Araby and Ms.Hoda Shakra for their contribution, relentless effort
in data acquisition, coordination and interface with governmental entities that allowed the
completion of this study.
We greatly appreciate and thank the following individuals for serving as peer reviewers of the
content of this study and qualifying it.
Eng. Ghada Abdel
Elmoneim
Manager of Hazardous Waste and Substances- Waste Management
Regulatory Agency(WMRA), Ministry of Environment
Eng. Essam Abd Elaziz Manger of Hazardous Substances, Waste Management Regulatory
Agency(WMRA), Ministry of Environment
Eng. Ghada Abdelmonem General Manager of Hazardous Substances and Waste
Department, Waste Management Regulatory Agency (WMRA),
Ministry of Environment
Eng. Yasser Abd El-Bary Program Manager of Electronics Industry, Information
Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
Eng. Mona Darwish Project Manager, Information Infrastructure Sector-Ministry of
Communication and Information Technology(MCIT)
Eng. Ahmed Hammam Unit Manager, Telecommunications Projects Planning
Department, Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology(MCIT)
Eng. Hoda Shakra Technical officer, GEF-UNDP Project on Protect Human Health
and the Environment from Unintentional Releases of POPs
Originating from Incineration and Open Burning of Health Care
and Electronic Waste
Ms. Anahide Bondolfi Senior Consultant , Sofies group

Issue and Revision Record
Information Class: Secure
EcoConServ Environmental Solutions herein
by referred to as the Consultant has prepared
this report with all care and diligence, and
taking account of the Services and the Terms
agreed solely between EcoConServ
Environmental Solutions and the Client,
which commissioned it.
No representation, warranty or undertaking, is
made and no responsibility or liability is
accepted by the consultant to any party other
than the Client or any Recipient(s), as to the
accuracy or completeness of the report
content. This report does not include any
legal, insurance or financial advice or opinion.
The consultant accepts no responsibility for
data, information or statements supplied to us
by other parties including the client (‘Data’).
EcoConServ has not verified such Data and
has assumed it accurate, complete, and
reliable. Forecasts presented in this document
were prepared using Data and the report is
dependent /based on Data. Inevitably, some
of the assumptions used to develop the
forecasts will not be realized and
unanticipated events and circumstances may
occur. Consequently, EcoConServ does not
guarantee or warrant the conclusions
contained in the report, as there are likely to
be differences between the forecasts and the
actual results and those differences may be
material. While we consider the information
and opinions given in this report are sound,
all parties must rely on their own skill and
judgement when making use of it.
Version Control Log
Revision Date Made by Checked by Description
1 21/06/2016 As above Emad Raouf Draft Report
2 08/09/2016 As above Emad Raouf II Draft Report
3 15/12/2016 As above Emad Raouf Final Report
[Updated]
[Updated I]

Table of Content
TABLE OF CONTENT ...................................................................................................................................... 3
LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................................................. 6
LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................................ 6
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS.................................................................................................... 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................10
1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................21
1.1 OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................................................................21
1.2 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION .............................................................................................................................................22
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSESSMENT....................................................................................................................................23
2 METHODS................................................................................................................................................ 24
2.1 DATA ACQUISITION ..........................................................................................................................................................24
2.1.1 Literature and Statistical Analysis...............................................................................................................................24
2.1.2 Meetings and Interviews..............................................................................................................................................25
2.1.3 Surveys and Questionnaires........................................................................................................................................25
2.1.4 Field Studies...................................................................................................................................................................25
2.2 MASS FLOW ASSESSMENT.................................................................................................................................................26
2.3 LIMITATIONS.......................................................................................................................................................................26
3 SYSTEM DEFINITION ........................................................................................................................... 28
3.1 GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE ....................................................................................................................................................28
3.2 PRODUCT SCOPE................................................................................................................................................................28
3.2.1 Development of ICT Sector.......................................................................................................................................28
3.3 DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS ..........................................................................................................................................29
4 POLICY AND LEGISLATION................................................................................................................. 32
4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND ARTICLES.........................................................................................................................32
4.2 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RELATED LAWS ...........................................................................................................32
4.2.1 Law number 38 of 1967, General Public Cleansing ...............................................................................................33
4.2.2 Law Number 4 of 1994 and its amendments Law 9/2009, Environment Law ................................................33
4.2.3 Law Number 48 of 1982, Protection of the River Nile and its Canals...............................................................33
4.2.4 Laws Concerning Public Ways ...................................................................................................................................33
4.3 LAWS ON WEEE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................................33
4.4 LAWS INFLUENCING WEEE RECYCLING INDUSTRY .................................................................................................33
4.4.1 Age of Imports..............................................................................................................................................................34
4.4.2 Second Hand Telecommunication Equipment Import .........................................................................................34
4.4.3 WEEE Import...............................................................................................................................................................34
4.4.4 The Egyptian Law of Auction....................................................................................................................................34
4.5 SOCIAL LAWS ......................................................................................................................................................................34
4.5.1 Law Number 137 of 1981, Labor Law .....................................................................................................................34
4.5.2 Child Labor....................................................................................................................................................................34
4.5.3 Freedom of Association ..............................................................................................................................................34
4.6 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................34
4.7 GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AFFILIATED WITH WEEE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................36
5 STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT............................................................................................................. 45
5.1 MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTS ....................................................................................................................................46
5.2 DISTRIBUTERS.....................................................................................................................................................................48

5.3 CONSUMERS........................................................................................................................................................................49
5.3.1 Households ....................................................................................................................................................................50
5.3.2 Enterprises .....................................................................................................................................................................52
5.3.3 Governmental Sector ...................................................................................................................................................54
5.4 END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................................................54
5.4.1 Informal Sector .............................................................................................................................................................56
5.4.2 Formal Sector ................................................................................................................................................................67
5.5 CIVIL SOCIETY....................................................................................................................................................................75
6 WEEE INVENTORY ASSESSMENT...................................................................................................... 77
6.1 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................77
6.1.1 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................................................81
6.2 CONCEPTUAL APPROACH.................................................................................................................................................81
6.3 ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTALLED BASE OF SELECTED TRACERS...............................................................................81
6.4 CURRENT WEEE INVENTORY AND MASS FLOW........................................................................................................85
6.4.1 Scenario Analysis – WEEE Inventory......................................................................................................................85
6.4.2 Mass flow .......................................................................................................................................................................85
6.5 FUTURE MASS FLOW TRENDS .........................................................................................................................................88
7 IMPACTS................................................................................................................................................... 92
7.1 HOT SPOTS..........................................................................................................................................................................92
7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.............................................................................................................................................93
7.3 SOCIAL IMPACTS.................................................................................................................................................................94
7.3.1 Impacts on Employees ................................................................................................................................................94
7.3.2 Impacts on Society........................................................................................................................................................95
7.4 ECONOMIC IMPACT...........................................................................................................................................................95
8 COUNTRY ANALYSIS - CHALLENGES IN RECYCLING WEEE...................................................... 98
8.1 PROPOSED ROADMAP FOR WEEE MANAGEMENT IN EGYPT................................................................................101
9 RECOMMENDATIONS..........................................................................................................................102
10 CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................106
11 LIST OF REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................108
12 ANNEXES ................................................................................................................................................ 110
Annex 1: Overview of Stakeholders & Contacts Who Agreed To Be Onymous
Annex 2: Field Survey Findings Report
Annex 3: Questionnaire/Survey Employed in Field Survey
Annex 4: Questionnaire Intended for Governmental Sector Survey
Annex 5: Imports Data Received From CAPMAS
Annex 6: Employees Number, Sectorial and Enterprise Category Received From CAPMAS
Annex 7: Weight, Composition and Category of Tracers
Annex 8: Detailed Calculation of Current WEEE Mass Flow
Annex 9: Overview of Hazardous Waste Legal Text and Classification

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List of Figures
Figure 1. WEEE in Egypt at glance...............................................................................................................................22
Figure 2. Life cycle chain of EEE/WEEE...................................................................................................................45
Figure 3. Computer Screen units Import. Display unit (x1000). Source: CAPMAS..............................................46
Figure 4. Mobile units Import. Display unit (x1000). Source: CAPMAS................................................................47
Figure 5. Telephone set units Import. Display unit (x1000). Source: CAPMAS....................................................48
Figure 6. Smart Phone Market Share Q3 of 2015 .......................................................................................................49
Figure 7. Mobile Subscription and penetration rate. Source: MCIT indicators......................................................50
Figure 8. Major findings on mobiles from household survey....................................................................................50
Figure 9. Telephone Subscription and penetration rate. Source: MCIT indicators ...............................................51
Figure 10. Major findings on telephones from survey................................................................................................51
Figure 11. PC in Households - survey findings ...........................................................................................................52
Figure 12. Survey findings – large enterprises..............................................................................................................53
Figure 13. Survey findings – SMEs................................................................................................................................53
Figure 14. Disposal Method of selected tracers - survey findings ............................................................................55
Figure 15. Overview on informal sector .......................................................................................................................59
Figure 16. WEEE Stock of Merchant in Kollaly district............................................................................................60
Figure 17. Type of cables burnt to retrieve copper.....................................................................................................60
Figure 18. Dismantled WEEE stock in Mr.Amar workshop ....................................................................................63
Figure 19. Sorted WEEE streams..................................................................................................................................63
Figure 20. Packed WEEE commodities for export ....................................................................................................63
Figure 21. Collected dismantled PCBs by Mr.Dani (first row) plus photos during transect and tracer walk....65
Figure 22. Photo documentation during transect and tracer walk in Alexandria WEEE hubs...........................66
Figure 23. Dismantling and sorting area .......................................................................................................................71
Figure 24. Mechanical crushing unit..............................................................................................................................71
Figure 25. Plastic crushing unit.......................................................................................................................................71
Figure 26. One product of mechanical crushing and magnetic separation .............................................................72
Figure 27. One gram of refined 24 carat gold..............................................................................................................72
Figure 28. Recyclobekia warehouse ...............................................................................................................................56
Figure 29. Sorting and dismantling in Eco Integrated Industrial Systems...............................................................57
Figure 30. Tentative source for data collection............................................................................................................79
Figure 31. WEEE mass flow chart ................................................................................................................................86
Figure 32. Mass percentage of major fractions in Category 3 ...................................................................................96
List of Tables
Table 1. Data acquisition .................................................................................................................................................24
Table 2. Social development indicators.........................................................................................................................29
Table 3. Environmental Indicators (2012)....................................................................................................................30
Table 4. Economic development indicators.................................................................................................................30
Table 5. Governmental bodies related to WEEE management................................................................................36
Table 6. Laws with influence on WEEE management...............................................................................................37
Table 7. Prices of WEEE streams. Source: Primary source - transect and tracer walk.........................................63
Table 8. EEE & WEEE Markets and Hubs ................................................................................................................64
Table 9. Processes performed on WEEE.....................................................................................................................68
Table 10. Reimbursable value of WEEE extracted commodities.............................................................................70

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Table 11. Price for hazardous waste/treatment...........................................................................................................74
Table 12. Quantities and prices of used mobile handsets collected by Resala NGO in 2014, 2013, 2012........76
Table 13. Tentative Sources of Data..............................................................................................................................77
Table 14. Constraint Table..............................................................................................................................................80
Table 15. Installed base of selected tracers...................................................................................................................84
Table 16. Average lifetime and cycle of selected tracers.............................................................................................85
Table 17. Mass flow chart calculation............................................................................................................................87
Table 18. Forecasted annual sales of tracers each succeeding years.........................................................................90
Table 19. Increase in installed volume of stock and WEEE– cumulative. .............................................................91
Table 20. Environmental Impacts..................................................................................................................................93
Table 21. Material composition of tracers - Umicore.................................................................................................95
Table 22. Economic magnitude of the WEEE mass flow.........................................................................................97
Table 23. List of recommendations .............................................................................................................................102

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List of Acronyms and Definitions
ARF Advanced Recycling Fee
CAPMAS Central Agency For Public Mobilization and Statistics
CAGR Cumulative Annual Growth Rate
CDD Compact Disk Drive
CEDARE Center For Environment & Development For The Arab Region & Europe
CRT Cathode Ray Tube
ECS EcoConServ Environmental Solutions
EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority
ENCPC Egypt National Cleaner Production Centre
EPR Extended Producer Responsibility
WEEE Electronic Waste
FDD Floppy Disk Drive
GAGS General Authority of Government Services
HDD Hard Disk Drive
HWMU Hazardous Waste Management Unit
ICs Integrated Circuits
ICT Information and Communication Technology
ITU International Telecommunication Union
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
MTI Ministry Of Trade and Industry
NEAP National Environmental Action Plan
NTRA National Telecom Regulatory Authority
PC Personal Computer
PCBs Printed Circuit Boards
PPP Public Private Partnership
SMEs Small And Medium Enterprises
MSMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
WEEE Waste Of Electric And Electronic Equipment
VOIP Voice Over Internet Protocol
WEEE Formal
Management
Firms
In the context of this report, the Consultant used this term to describe WEEE
management firms with established office/firm/plant that possess
environmental permit from Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and
operational permit from Industrial Development Authority to perform their
respective activity with WEEE.
WEEE Informal
Management
Firms
In the context of this report, the Consultant used this term to describe WEEE
management firms that do not possess environmental permit from Egyptian
Environmental Affairs Agency and operational permit from Industrial

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Development Authority to perform their respective activity with WEEE.
Tons A tonne, also known as metric tons, is a unit of mass equaling 1,000 kilograms.

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Executive Summary
Overview
“WEEE is a term used to cover all items of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts
that have been discarded by its owner as waste without the intent of reuse” (Step Initiative 2014).
The amout of electronic waste (WEEE/WEEE) has increased rapidly over the past years with
estimated generation capacity of 20-50 million tonnes annualy. WEEE impose a global challenge on
both develped and developing worlds due to the complex characterstic of this waste stream, where
its constitutent includes toxic and other resoureces that varies significanlty by product. Currently
electronic waste makes up around 5% of municipale waste world wide and is counted as the fastest
growing component of municipal solid waste stream.
Problem Identification
Egypt is among top three African countries with the highest WEEE generation in absolute
quantities, amounting 0.37 million tons in 2014. With no proper management of WEEE, this
signpost adverse environmental and health impact because of the constituents of this complex waste
stream which includes hazardous resources. As large quantities are generated per year, not enough
are collected/recycled by formal sector, leaving majority of WEEE treated or dumped, according to
the informal sector treatment.
Objective of the Assessment
The assessment will include:
 Analysis of local context and stakeholders identification
 Describe WEEE practices in the country by formal and informal sector
 Describe and analyze national policies and regulatory framework on WEEE handling and
recycling
 Establish baseline for current and future WEEE inventory and mass flow
 Identify hot spots and develop road map for WEEE management in Egypt
 Social and economic evaluation
 Environmental and social impacts of current WEEE practices
 Identify the challenges Egypt face with WEEE recycling industry
 Recommendations based on this study

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Data Acquisition
The consultant adopted multi-approach data collection, comprising of quantitative and qualitative
data from primary and secondary resources, followed by refining gathered data thorough reviewing
process to deduce reliable information.
Data input Source
Governmental Sources  Tracers Imports and
Exports Data Base
 Development indicators
(Population, education and
Economy)
 Households data
 ICT Indicators
 Quantitative data on selected
traceri
s
 Penetration rate on selected
tracers
 Tracers stock in
governmental bodies
 WEEE practices in
governmental entities
 Amount of disposed WEEE
from formal supplier
 Central Agency for Public
Mobilization and Statistics
(CAPMAS)
 Egyptian Ministry of
Communications and Information
Technology (MCIT)
 Information and Decision Support
Center (IDSC)
 General Authority of
Governmental Services (GAGS)
 National Telecom Regulatory
Authority (NTRA)
Regional and
International Data
Base
 EEE imports and exports
 Country profile
 International trade in goods
 Country solid waste profile
 WEEE developments –
country specific
 WEEE initiatives
 Economic opportunities
 UN Comtrade Database
 World Bank
 The Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development
(OECD)
 the Regional Solid Waste Exchange
of Information and Expertise
Network (SWEEP-Net)
 Basel Convention Regional Center
(BCRC-Egypt)
 United Nations specialized agency
for information and
communication technologies (ITU)
Literatures  WEEE classification
 WEEE recycling potentials
 Best practices
 WEEE development in the
country
 Country practices
 Stakeholders mapping
 ArabDev
 Environmental protection Agency
(EPA) – U.S.A
 United Nation University (UNU)
 step-initiative
 Centre for Environment and
Development for the Arab Region
and Europe (CEDARE)

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Data input Source
Meetings & Interviews A number of meetings and interviews took place with institutions
representative, private sector representative, distributers, NGOs, formal
collectors, informal collectors and recyclers. The purpose was to draw the
current country practices with WEEE practices, collect quantitative and
qualitative information on WEEE, suggest recommendations as well as
gather scoped information on the selected tracers.
Surveys and
Questionnaires
The household survey was conducted on a sample of 1806 respondents at
households in the five target governorates (Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia,
Alexandria and Sharkeya). Private households were considered the survey
unit, hence each response to the questionnaire represents one family. The
total number of enterprises surveyed were 27 (9 companies in each of the
target governorates.) representing 19 SMEs and 8 large enterprise.
Enterprises were selected according to their sizes as well as to represent
different economic sectors. Total surveyed SMEs and large enterprises
were 19 and 8 respectively.
Product Scope (Tracers)
This assessment focuses on tracers that are considered the fasted growing waste streams and are
widely used among private and governmental sector in Egyptian population. As per the terms of
reference of the project, the tracers of category 1 chosen are Personal Computers comprising
desktop computers and laptops, tracers of category 2 chosen are mobile phones and tracer of
category 3 chosen are telephone sets. According to UK environmental agency, selected tracers falls
under IT and telecommunications equipment categories. Additional attention will be given on the
recycling practices of electrical cables in the Egyptian market. The composition of these categories
of equipment in terms of weight and materials is provided in Annex 7.
Policy and Legislation
Law 4 /1994 on the Environment and its amendments in Law 9/2009 are the over-riding
environmental laws for Egypt. Article 3 of the Presidential Decree issuing Law 4/1994 repeals all
provisions of other laws running counter to the provisions of Law 4/1994. One article in Law
4/1994 addresses general solid waste management and another addresses the management of
construction and demolition debris. In addition, five articles address hazardous waste management.
Egypt has no stipulated solid waste management law however Law 38/1967 on General Public
Cleaning and their amendments are the main legislation enforcing the establishment of solid waste
management.
Law 38/1967 on General Public Cleansing is the primary law governing the management of solid
waste in Egypt. It was enacted in 1967 and replaced all previous laws dealing with solid waste

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including Law 97/1956 on Organization of Garbage Collection and Transfer, Law 159/1953 on
Cleansing Public Squares, Streets and Highways, and Law 151/1947 on Cleansing Fences and
Unused Areas. Since 1967, it has been amended four times. In 1968, the Minister of Housing (MoH)
issued the executive regulations for the law (MoH 134/1968).
Law 48/1982 is the law for protection of the Nile and its canals. The executive regulations for Law
48/1982 were issued by Minister of Irrigation Decree Number 8 of 1983 (MoI 8/1983). The law and
its executive regulations and amendments in January 2013 by ministerial decision 92/2013 is
primarily focus on wastewater discharges to the Nile and its canals, but also contain articles that
include solid waste.
Two laws concerning public ways, such as highways, streets, and squares, Law 140/1956,
Occupation of Public Ways and Law 84/1968, Concerning Public Ways, contain restrictions on
solid waste management and disposal.
Egypt has listed WEEE is under the category of the hazardous waste list issued by the Ministry of
Industry (decision 165/2002), item 16. As WEEE is identified as hazardous waste by the
aforementioned decision articles addressing hazardous waste management in law 4/94 regulate it

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Governmental Bodies affiliated with WEEE Management
Entity Note
Ministry of Environment (MoE)
Egyptian Environmental Affairs
Agency (EEAA)
Waste Management Regulatory
Authority (WMRA)
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency is the executive arm of the
Ministry of Communication and
Information Technology
(MCIT)
The MCIT and MoE have signed Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) in February 2010 to launch the Egyptian Green ICT Strategy.
MCIT and MoE have conducted several initiatives to introduce WEEE
management principles. The MCIT is keen to address the WEEE
management in the green ICT strategy
Ministry of Trade and Industry
(MTI)
Egyptian National Cleaner
Production Center (ENCPC)
The Egypt National Cleaner Production Centre (ENCPC) was
established in 2005 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in
close cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) with the aim to promote green technologies,
revolutionize current national and local practices and transfer the
required knowledge for environmental friendly industries.
Ministry of Finance The auction of absolute EEE in public organizations is regulated and
supervised by the Ministry of Finance. Furthermore, The Egyptian
Customs Authority as part of Ministry of Finance inspect and monitors
the flow of electric and electronic equipment in and out of Egypt
National Telecom Regulatory
Authority (NTRA)
NTRA requires importers of telecommunication equipment to manage
safely telecommunication electronic waste in order to issue them
permit. This is intercepted through Waste Tracking Form, where
telecommunication equipment importers require submitting annually.
NTRA accepts the following ways of safely managing electronic waste:
Sending the waste to Nasreya hazardous landfill, delivering the
electronic waste to WEEE management firms (e.g. ITG) and selling of
telecommunication electronic waste in public auctions.
General Authority of
Government Services (GAGS)
The GAGS auctions the movable and immovable property of
administrative body and public authorities after being authorized by
those entities, in order to eliminate the problem of overstock and scrap
(this includes electronic waste). Also, the GAGS auctions goods and
commodities that are obsolete or confiscated by customs.
Hazardous Waste Management
Unit (HWMU) in Nasreya
recycling and disposal center
It was established as part of Finnish Egyptian cooperation for the
design and construction of hazardous waste treatment system. Where
the Governor of Alexandria issue a decree No.416 in 2000 to establish a
unit of hazardous management. The project constitute of two phases,
Phase I of the facility includes a secure landfill and solar evaporation
ponds to receive wastes, and Phase II includes mechanical and chemical
treatment, solidification, and interim storage.

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Method Employed, Installed Base of Tracers and Mass Flow
The application of Approximation 1 Stock method that is also referred as “Consumption and Use”
requires data on saturation level, number of households, stock data and average life time. These data
are available from different governmental and private secondary sources and supported by
survey/questionnaire carried out. The inventory assessment is based upon approximation 1 stock
method that would form the baseline for the future WEEE projections according to imports and
market research agencies finding.
The conceptual approach of tracers’ inventory assessment is based on three steps are employed to
described as following:
Step 1: Establish the installed base of selected tracers with medium term future projections (5 years)
to ensure the reliability of the projections
Step 2: Identify obsolescence rate and average life cycle data using “upper limit” and “lower limit”
Step 3: Quantify WEEE inventory and mass flow with medium future projections
The following table provides the installed base of selected tracers

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Installed base of selected tracers
Quantity Unit
2,407,911.0 enterprise
1,631.0 enterprise
91,508,084.0 capita
21,787,639.0 households
5,752,039.0 employee
Assumptions for calculation
Goveronmental sector
employees
Private MSMEs
Private large enter
Egypt Population 2015
Egypt HHs 2015
subject Tracer kg
Mobile 0.1
Telephone 1.0
Computer 9.9
Laptop 3.5
CRT monitor 14.1
LCD monitor 4.7
Weights
Unit Weight Unit Weight(kg) Unit Weight(kg) Unit Weight(kg) Unit Weight(kg) Unit Weight(kg) Subtotal
[-] [kg] [-] [kg] [-] [kg] [-] [kg] [-] [kg] [-] [kg] Weight(kg)
94,020,000.0 9,402,000.0 6,240,000.0 6,240,000.0 15,642,000.0
8,375,342.8 82,915,893.2 3,869,310.4 13,542,586.4 4,941,452.2 69,674,476.3 3,433,890.5 16,139,285.5 182,272,241.4
24,242,210.0 24,242,210.0 26,522,903.0 262,576,739.7 24,258,520.0 84,904,820.0 5,304,580.60 74,794,586.5 21,218,322.4 99,726,115.3 546,244,471.4
958,673.2 958,673.2 563,699.8 5,580,628.2 241,585.6 845,549.7 169,109.9 2,384,450.2 394,589.9 1,854,572.4 11,623,873.8
94,020,000.0 9,402,000.0 31,440,883.2 31,440,883.2 35,461,945.57 351,073,261.17 28,369,416.03 99,292,956.11 10,415,142.77 146,853,513.05 25,046,802.80 117,719,973.18
755,782,586.7
Total (tons) 755,782.59
LCD Monitor
Population
Actor
Total of installed base of tracers (Stock
istalled)
Mobile Telephone Desktop Computer Laptop CRT Monitor
Total (kg)
Sub Total
Goveronmental Sector
Enterprises
Households

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Mass flow of Tracers
Legend
Stock tons
WEEE1 Scenario 1 tons/year
WEEE2 Scenario 2 tons/year
Imports data not incorporated due
to Data limitation in receiving the
annual tracers import.
Product Waste

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The governmental sector and enterprises electronic obsolete equipment is mostly disposed in
auctions. The largest electronic waste generated is by enterprises (amounting ≈58%), followed by
households (amounting ≈23%) and governmental sector (amounting ≈19%). Based on scenario 1
the mass flow is 72,992.7 tons/year and based on scenario 2 the mass flow is 66,203.8 tons/year.
The largest amount of mass flow is generated by the enterprises, followed by households then
governmental sector. Post dismantling of tracers, extracted commodities as plastics, iron, etc. is
processed and reinstalled in the market as feedstock for other industries. Currently only around
1,608.0 tons/year of electronic waste is been collected from the total generated electronic waste
mass flow, which only represents 2.2% to 2.4% based on WEEE1 and WEEE2 respectively. For
the selected tracers, the stock of equipment/inhabitant and stock of equipment/household is around
8.3 kg and 34.69 kg respectively. As for the waste mass /year/inhabitant is around 0.80 kg (WEEE1)
and 0.72 kg (WEEE2).
Hot spots
Eol from consumer
1 Waste auction by public sector has no recycling regulation on collectors – ending with informal sector.
2 Waste auction by enterprises is not subjected to regulation on sustainable recycling.
3 Consumer dump WEEE with household waste. No EPR, WEEE goes to maintenance and service shops and
downstream end with informal sector.
Material recovery
4 WEEE management firms: “Cherry picking” of WEEE - WEEE which requires careful handling or low
economic revenue eventually ends with informal sector.
5 Informal sector: inappropriate dismantling of hazardous component; child labour; negative health impacts; wires
and cables burning.
Informal Dumping
6 Emissions from dumped waste; emissions from informal burning sites; not all secondary recourses efficiently are
recovered.
Section ‎8.1 suggest the interventions in form of roadmap for WEEE management in Egypt

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Conclusion
In this study, assessment for electronic waste in Egypt has been performed encompassing legal
assessment, stakeholder assessment, installed stock and mass flow assessment, scenario analysis of
mass flow, assessment of country challenges in recycling WEEE, proposed roadmap and
recommendations. In Egypt, there is no specific regulation regarding electronic waste management,
it is strongly recommended to enact a definition of electronic waste and regulations on electronic
waste management. Most of households electronic waste downstream ends with informal sector, the
electronic wastes from governmental sector and enterprises is mostly auctioned and this occur with
no environmental health and safety requirement neither end treatment requirement on participants.
Up to date of this study, six WEEE management firms practice in depth dismantling and recycling
some of base metals in local industries, of which only two of the six WEEE management firms are
formal as per the definition stipulated in this study. Only two of the six WEEE management firms
do recycle PCBs and other electronic boards by employing mechanical and chemical processing. It is
well noted that most of the WEEE management firms are facing challenges in dealing with CRT
monitors and batteries due to lack of knowledge treatment and negative economic value,
consequently, the behavior of “cherry picking” of specific electronic waste has been observed.
During the process of mapping the informal sector, transect and tracer walk, no chemical processing
on electronic waste has been reported. However, improper handling of electronic waste and open air
burning was been reported. At the time being, there are persons in the informal sector who are
managing to export PCBs and electronic boards abroad. This WEEE practices by the formal and
informal sector impact is rated as medium with medium sensitivity, because there is no chemical
processing reported in the informal sector, the sensitivity of impact is not critical. Nevertheless,
currently the practices in informal sector are ignoring safety, health, and environment concern,
which necessitate timely interventions on many levels to minimize the impact and the sensitivity of
the impact.
With respect to electronic waste quantification, a number of tracers has been selected that are
considered most being employed within the population, also because the appliances contain a
considerable amount of precious metals and base metals, the tracers represent category 3 as per UK
environmental agency WEEE categorization. The tracers are mobile, telephone, desktop PC, laptop
PC, CRT monitor and LCD monitor. There has been difficulty in quantifying the tracers’
penetration, demand and waste in governmental sector, given the limited time and financial scope,
the consultant adopted alternative approach based on official data and indicative survey. However, it
is strongly recommended to perform survey across governmental sector and maintain non-fiscal
database for any future studies affiliated with electronic waste.
For year 2015, installed base of tracers reached around 755,782.59 tons with enterprises having the
largest volume of installed tracers, followed by households and governmental sector respectively.
This represents 8.3kg stock of tracer/inhabitant and 34.89kg stock of tracer/household. As for the
waste mass flow of selected tracers, it ranged between 72,992.7 tons/year to 66,203.8 tons/year

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based on scenario 1 and scenario 2 respectively. This amounts 0.80kg WEEE/inhabitant based on
scenario 1 and 0.72 kg/inhabitant based on scenario 2. As reported during interviews, only around
1584.0 tons/year of WEEE is collected from the market, which only represents 2.2 % to 2.4%. This
suggests the market is very promising for electronic waste recycling initiatives. But also suggest
timely intervention is required, because the majority of electronic waste has unidentified final
destination, which indicates a large loss of valuable economic potential as well as added negative
value of environmental and health degradation if most of the mass flow is subjected to informal
sector treatment.
The study suggests road map for WEEE management in Egypt. To ensure the sustainability of the
WEEE recycling business in Egypt, This study recommends that existing informal sector be
integrated in the formal waste management system in “safe” recycling processes. This can take form
accrediting and empowering informal sector for collection and dismantling, supported by
environmental health and safety regulations. Cumulatively, this would be time saving for WEEE
management firms and lower labour cost. To reinforce the sustainability of the WEEE recycling
business in Egypt, alternative business models with financial incentives need to be studied, other
financial support to provide additional revenue and an effective collection design system need to be
established. Consequently, this would foster the recycling operations, smelting and refinery plants by
having constant feedstock from the collection points. Finally, the Consultant recommends that
future initiatives and pilot projects in the WEEE industry is advised to focus more on ensuring
effective collection of WEEE, given that the two current existing WEEE recycling plants are
encountering challenges with respect to employ effective processes on various encountered WEEE
to efficiently recover the precious metals.
End of Executive Summary

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1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
“WEEE is a term used to cover all items of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts
that have been discarded by its owner as waste without the intent of reuse” (Step Initiative 2014).
The amout of electronic waste (WEEE/WEEE) has increased rapidly over the past years with
estimated generation capacity of 20-50 million tonnes annualy1
. WEEE impose a global challenge on
both develped and developing worlds due to the complex characterstic of this waste stream, where
its constitutent includes toxic and other resoureces that varies significanlty by product. Currently
electronic waste makes up around 5% of municipale waste world wide and is counted as the fastest
growing component of municipal solid waste stream2
.
302 million personal computers3
in 2014 and 336.3 million mobiles in 2015 were sold world wide4
,
which represents 65% percent annual sales rise than in 2004 for personal computers and over 100%
annual sales rise than in 2008 for mobiles. This sharp growth is expected to accelerate more, since
electronic equipment life span is decreasing over years while accompanied by consumer behaviour
that tend to acquire newer products attributed to technological progress in the market that offers
better services to end users. Among all devices, mobile phones and personal computers represent
the major problem as they are replaced in high frequency. In Europe WEEE is growing at a rate of
three to five percent annualy, and this figure is expected to triple for developing conutires in the
following five years5
.
United Nation University estimated that 41.8 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2014
world wide, where only 6.5 million tons were collected by official collection companies or take back
system, which makes 35.3 million tonnes of electronic waste with ananymous fate. WEEE currently
is majorly dealt by the informal sector in the developing world. United Nation University's report
indicates that large quantites of WEEE shipped to west Africa and Asia are shipped from
industrialized countries6
.
It is widely unknown that WEEE not only contains hazardous substances but also includes highly
valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, iron, aluminum, indium, gallium
and rare earth metals that may be recovered. The extraction of these metals from the Earth comes
along with a significant environmental impact. WEEE recycling thus contributes to sustainable
1
UNEP environment alert bulletin, http://www.grid.unep.ch/products/3_Reports/ew_ewaste.en.pdf
2
Greenpeace international, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/detox/electronics/the-
WEEE-problem/
3
International data corporation, global worldwide pc sales, http://www.statisticbrain.com/computer-sales-
statistics/
4
Gartner, IT research company, worldwide smartphone sales, retrieved April 2016
http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3323017
5
Eurostat, environmental data center on waste, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/waste/key-waste-
streams/weee
6
UNU our world portal, http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/toxic-WEEE-dumped-in-poor-nations-says-united-nations

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resource management and presents a viable economical opportunity which invite to develop WEEE
management system. For every 1 million cell phones that are recycled, 16000 kg of copper, 350 kg
of silver, 34 kg of gold, and 15 kg of palladium can be recovered7
.
1.2 Problem Identification
Egypt is among the top three African countries with the highest WEEE generation in absolute
quantities, amounting 0.37 million tons in 20148
. With no proper management of WEEE, this
signpost adverse environmental and health impact because of the constituents of this complex waste
stream which includes hazardous resources. As large quantities are generated per year, not enough
are collected/recycled by formal sector, leaving majority of WEEE treated or dumped, according to
the informal sector treatment.
The country faces challenges at the level of consumer awareness, but significantly more on the
collection, recycling processes, and the disposal of WEEE. A cooperative effort is required with all
stakeholders to foster developing integrated WEEE management system that would be beneficial to
all parties enforced by legal and institutional framework.
7
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Wastes - Resource Conservation - Common Wastes & Materials -
eCycling." Web Accessed April 11, 2015
8
Baldé, C.P., Wang, F., Kuehr, R., Huisman, J. (2015), The global WEEE monitor – 2014, United Nations University,
IAS – SCYCLE, Bonn, Germany.
WEEE in Egypt at Glance
EEE Put
in Market
[2012]
WEEE
Generated
[2014]
Kg/Inhabitant 7.7 4.3
Total Metric
kilotons
635 373
[Total inhabitants in 2012: 82.01 million]
Figure 1.WEEE in Egypt at glance

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1.3 Objective of the Assessment
The objective of the assessment is to provide evaluation on the current WEEE management and
practices in Egypt, develop baseline information to help in drawing structure for WEEE
management system, and to identify economic and social opportunities.
The assessment will include:
 Analysis of local context and stakeholders identification
 Describe WEEE practices in the country by formal and informal sector
 Describe and analyze national policies and regulatory framework on WEEE handling and
recycling
 Establish baseline for current and future WEEE inventory and mass flow
 Identify hot spots and develop road map for WEEE management in Egypt
 Social and economic evaluation
 Environmental and social impacts of current WEEE practices
 Identify the challenges Egypt face with WEEE recycling industry
 Recommendations based on this study
The scope of the assessment covers whole Egypt, with field visits and surveys focused on Greater
Cairo, Alexandria and Sharkia, which encompasses surveys to business enterprises and households.

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2 Methods
2.1 Data Acquisition
The consultant adopted multi-approach data collection, comprising of quantitative and qualitative
sources, followed by refining gathered data thorough reviewing process to collate reliable
information.
2.1.1 Literature and Statistical Analysis
Literature and documentary analysis prominently included but not limited to the following
Table 1. Data acquisition
Data input Source
Governmental Sources  Tracers9
Imports and
Exports Data Base
 Development indicators
(Population, education and
Economy)
 Households data
 ICT Indicators
 Quantitative data on selected
tracers
 Penetration rate on selected
tracers
 Tracers stock in
governmental bodies
 WEEE practices in
governmental entities
 Amount of disposed WEEE
from formal supplier
 Central Agency for Public
Mobilization and Statistics
(CAPMAS)
 Egyptian Ministry of
Communications and Information
Technology (MCIT)
 Information and Decision Support
Center (IDSC)
 General Authority of
Governmental Services (GAGS)
 National Telecom Regulatory
Authority (NTRA)
Regional and
International Data
Base
 EEE imports and exports
 Country profile
 International trade in goods
 Country solid waste profile
 WEEE developments –
country specific
 WEEE initiatives
 Economic opportunities
 UN Comtrade Database
 World Bank
 The Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development
(OECD)
 the Regional Solid Waste Exchange
of Information and Expertise
Network (SWEEP-Net)
 Basel Convention Regional Center
(BCRC-Egypt)
 United Nations specialized agency
9
Tracers: Desktop PC, Laptop PC, CRT monitors, LCD monitors, mobiles and telephones

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Data input Source
for information and
communication technologies (ITU)
Literatures  WEEE classification
 WEEE recycling potentials
 Best practices
 WEEE development in the
country
 Country practices
 Stakeholders mapping
 ArabDev
 Environmental protection Agency
(EPA) – U.S.A
 United Nation University (UNU)
 step-initiative
 Centre for Environment and
Development for the Arab Region
and Europe (CEDARE)
2.1.2 Meetings and Interviews
A number of meetings and interviews took place with institutions representative, private sector
representative, distributers, NGOs, formal collectors, informal collectors and recyclers. The purpose
was to draw the current country practices with WEEE practices, collect quantitative and qualitative
information on WEEE, suggest recommendations as well as gather scoped information on the
selected tracers.
A list of stakeholders’ contacts who agreed to be onymous are found in annex 1
2.1.3 Surveys and Questionnaires
The household survey was conducted on a sample of 1806 respondents at households in the five
target governorates (Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia, Alexandria and Sharkeya). Private households were
considered the survey unit, hence each response to the questionnaire represents one family. The
total number of enterprises surveyed were 27 (9 companies in each of the target governorates.)
representing 19 SMEs and 8 large enterprises. Enterprises were selected according to their size to
represent different economic sectors. Total surveyed SMEs and large enterprises were 19 and 8
respectively.
Initially it was planned to conduct survey across governmental sectors but at later stage it did not
take place due to limitations in issuing the required permissions and time frame constraints. Instead,
a series of interviews with different governmental sector representatives took place for qualitative
assessment and indicative quantitation.
2.1.4 Field Studies
To obtain data with respect to the informal sector treatment with WEEE and on quantities of
collected WEEE and destinations, the Consultant adopted a number of interviews with WEEE
merchants, dismantlers, recyclers and landfill operator, this was supported by the transect and tracer
walk in a number of areas and 2nd
hand markets, details are covered in Section ‎5.4.

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2.2 Mass Flow Assessment
In general, WEEE inventory of a country is based on either stock data, sales data or both together.
In case of Egypt, the consultant calculated the WEEE mass flow based on stock methodology.
Selected method is attributed to the reliable information, which provides stock quantified data.
The WEEE mass flow equation is estimated according to the Approximation 1 Stock method
(Burea B&G, 1993) in WEEE Management Manual produced by United Nation Environment
Program. This method is also referred as “Consumption and Use” in some literatures. This method
is presented mathematically in the following equation:
WEEE generation [Tons/Year] =
𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 (𝐼)+𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 (𝐻.𝐻) [𝑇𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠]
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 [𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟]
Where Stock (H.H) = H.H × 𝑊𝐴× 𝑃𝑟
Stock (I) = I.S × 𝑊𝐴× 𝑃𝑟
H.H: House Holds and Workplaces
I.S: Industry stock (private and public entities)
𝑊𝐴: Average Weight
Pr ∶ Penetration Rate
2.3 Limitations
During the process of collecting information to develop this study, a set of difficulties have been
encountered in order to conduct a thorough extensive assessment of the WEEE quantities due to
the following reasons.
- Limitation in information disclosure by suppliers and manufacturers thus difficulty in
assessing the tracers data
- Limitation on quantifying specific WEEE equipment/tracers due to lack of WEEE sorting
in storage and recycling process.
- Limitations in conducting survey with governomental sectors
- Many governomental sectors are running on paper-based information management system.
Furthemore, most of the information is based on fiscal values, which presents a challenge to
properly measure quantities.
The assessment is based on stock data method, which gives consistent results when reliable stock
data is avaialable. The main assumption associated with the stock method assessment is that the life
span of the tracer is presumed with no major deviation, which is a subjective and variable matter
with bearing in mind the new technological penetration in the market.

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The estimates are based on sources such as national data and coorelated with internationl data
therefore the results are reliable. The estimated WEEE generated between 2016 and 2021 is be
regarded as medium and the results of the survey on the population's practices are indicative.

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3 System Definition
3.1 Geographical Scope
The scope of the assessment covers whole Egypt, with field visits and surveys focused on Greater
Cairo, Alexandria and Sharkia, which encompasses surveys to business enterprises, households and
informal sector.
3.2 Product Scope
This assessment focuses on tracers that are considered the fasted growing waste streams and are
widely used among private and public sectors in the Egyptian population.
The selected tracers are composed of 3 categories10
as follows:
 Category 1 :Personal Computers comprising desktop computers and laptops,
 Category 2 : mobile phones
 Category 3: telephone sets.
According to directive 2012/19/EU11
on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) the
selected tracers fall under category 3 (IT and telecommunication equipment). Additional attention
will be given on the recycling practices of electrical cables in the Egyptian market. The composition
of these categories of equipment in terms of weight and materials is provided in Annex 7.
3.2.1 Development of ICT Sector
The selected tracers fall under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) appliance12
.
Egypt ICT sector has witnessed a substantial growth in the past 10 years. Egypt falls in the top 100
places in the United Nations index in 2015 from 167 countries for development in the
communication and information technology sector as well as citizens access to communication
technology. During 2008/2009 The ICT value added EGP 30.9 billion (US$ 5.6 billion), with an
annual growth rate of 14.5%. The ICT sector recorded the highest growth rate among economic
sectors in Egypt, proving that it can maintain its growth momentum even during times of crisis. The
private sector is playing a leading role contributing with about 69 % of the ICT's total value added to
the ones generated in 2008/2009. The ICT sector’s share in the total gross domestic product (GDP)
increased from EGP 48bn in 2010 to approximately EGP 66bn in 2014, recording a share of 4.1%.13
Egypt has successfully nurtured one of the most competitive and successful ICT economies in the
world. Already an ICT leader in the MENA region, Egypt is ranked 4th worldwide in A.T. Kearney’s
2011 Global Services Location Index, with the sector accounting for almost 4% of GDP, over US$
10 billion of total investment from some 5500 companies in 2013, and an annual growth rate of
10
As per project terms of reference
11
EU Directive on WEEE. “WEEE Categorization” archived on 6 January 2012.
12
Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, ewaste_insight_guide_1%20(1).pdf
13
MCIT, http://www.egyptictindicators.gov.eg/

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around 13%. The Government has set a target of doubling the share of ICT in the national
economy to 8.5% by 2020, creating 250,000 new jobs in the process
As part of fostering the Egyptian economy market, the Egyptian Ministry of Communication and
Information Technology (MICT) has set a new ICT strategy to boost the nation investment in the
ICT sector to 44 billion EGP. The ministry plans is to invest in improving the infrastructure,
assuring 75% of Egyptian household internet access with 2Mbps by 2015, and increasing households
internet access to 90% at 25Mbps by 2021. MCIT also aspires to offer 3G service to 98% of users
by 2015, 4G service to 90% of the population by 2021.
3.3 Development Indicators
People
Table 2. Social development indicators
Indicator In millions Source
Total Population (2016) 90,984,725 CAPMAS
Urban Population (estimations on 1/1/2016
based on 2006 census projections)
42.7% CAPMAS
Rural Population (estimations on 1/1/2016 based
on 2006 census projections)
57.3% CAPMAS
Number of households (2006 census survey) 17,289,299 CAPMAS
Size of households in 2006 4.18 % CAPMAS
Number of urban households 7,844,852 CAPMAS
Number of rural households 9,444,447 CAPMAS
Unemployment in 2014 13.2 World Bank
Youth unemployment in 2014 female male World Bank
64.8 % 32.7 %
Population below international poverty line in
2010
2.25% World Bank
Environment
The Capacity 21 Unit at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) is responsible of the
development and fostering of the environmental indicators through a set of strategic action plans,
which is UNDP sponsored, called National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) 2002-2017. It
represents Egypt’s agenda for environmental actions for the coming fifteen years. It complements
and integrates with other sectoral plans for economic growth and social development. As identified
by NEAP, Major environmental issues and concerns that challenge Egypt today covers the
degradation of land, air and water resources and the pressing need to preserve our cultural heritage
and natural biodiversity.
The following table demonstrate Egypt environmental indicators

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Table 3. Environmental Indicators (2012)
Electricity- International Energy Statistics
Scale Unit Quantity
Power consumption per capita KWh 1,700.45
Total Net Consumption Billion KWh 136.0
Total Net Generation Billion KWh 155.0
Total Installed Capacity Million KW 29.45
Total Renewable Energy Installed Million KW 3.63
GDP per unit of energy use $ per kg of oil equivalent 11.22
Emissions – World Bank Development Indicators
Scale Unit Quantity
GHG (CO2 equivalent) Kilotons 295,499.75
CO2 Emissions per Capita – 2011 Metric tons 2.64
Land Use - World Bank Development Indicators
Scale Unit Quantity
Land area Sq.km 995,450.0
Forest area Sq.km 712.0
Arable land area Hectare 2,829,000.0
Arable land area per person Hectare per person 0.03
Population - World Bank Development Indicators
Scale Unit Quantity
Population in Largest City Person 17,642,712.0
Population in Urban Agglomerations of
more than 1 million
Person 22,152,524.0
Rural Population Person 48,824,001.0
Urban Population Person 36,835,901.0
Egypt took set of actions to contribute in reducing the carbon dioxide print and greenhouse gases,
one of major developments is an overarching regulatory framework with the aim of securing 20% of
its energy generation from renewable sources by 2020 and is currently installing largest solar PV
power plant in the world with 1.8GW in Aswan.
Economy
Table 4. Economic development indicators
Indicators In millions/ Billion Source
Gross domestic product in
2014
$301.5 Billion –2.4 trillion Egyptian pounds
World Bank
GNI, PPP (current
international $)
(2011-2015)
920,696,746,178
GDP per capita in 2014 $3,210 - (30.49 thousand EGP CAPMAS)
GDP(ppp) per capita in
2014
10.280.0
GDP composition by sector Agriculture Industry Services
15% 36% 49%

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Indicators In millions/ Billion Source
Labor force by sector
In 2013
services agriculture industry
female male female male female male
52.1 46.9 42.9 24.1 5.0 29.0
States and Markets
Indicator In millions Source
Number of subscribers – Fixed lines (2015) 6.06 CAPMAS
Number of subscribers – Mobile phones (2015) 93.13 CAPMAS
Number of subscribers – Internet (2015) 27.25 CAPMAS
Internet users per 100 inhabitants (2015) 31.7 MCIT – ICT indicators
Number of mobile phone connections per 100
inhabitant (2015)
107.17 MCIT – ICT indicators
Fixed telephone lines per 100 inhabitant (2015) 7.23 MCIT – ICT indicators
ICT Contribution To GDP (%) at fixed prices (2015) 2.80 MCIT – ICT indicators
ICT Sector Revenues (thousands) (2015) 77.82
Micro, small and medium enterprises (2013) 2,407,911 CAPMAS

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4 Policy and Legislation
4.1 Environmental Law and Articles
Environmental protection is governed by Law No. 4 of 1994, and amended by Law 9/2009 with
decree No 1095/2011, 710/2012 and 964/2015 and its executive regulations.
Ambient Air Quality and Gaseous Emissions
Articles 35 and 34 of Law 4 of its Executive Regulations amended by Decree 1741/2005 provide the
maximum load of the ambient air and the permissible levels of air pollutants in emissions
Wastewater
Law 93/1962 regulates the disposal of wastewater, untreated substances, wastes or liquids which
may cause pollution along the Egyptian sea shores or adjoining waters either directly or indirectly,
intentionally or unintentionally (Article 69) and liquids in general, to the sewerage network. The
Executive Regulations (Decree 44/2000) in Article 14 details the physical/chemical standards that
should be complied with.
Solid Waste
Article 37 of Law 4/1994, articles 38 and 39 of its Executive Regulations, and Law 38 of 1967,
amended by Law number 31 of 1976, deal with the collection, transportation, and safe disposal of
solid wastes.
Hazardous and Dangerous Wastes
Articles 29 to 32 of Law 4/1994 provide regulations for the handling and storage of hazardous
materials, including hazardous waste. Article 33 of Law 4/1994 specifies that all precautions must be
taken when handling or storing hazardous material in any form (i.e.: gaseous, liquid, or solid).
Articles 35 to 36 address the responsibility of companies in ensuring safety of workers against
chemical risks.
Articles 26, 31, and Decree 211/2003 of Minister of Man-power & immigration, specify conditions
for the storage of flammable material, fuel, raw material, products and equipment.
4.2 Solid Waste Management Related Laws
Egypt has no stipulated solid waste management law however Law 38/1967 on General Public
Cleaning and their amendments are the main legislation enforcing the establishment of solid waste
management.

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4.2.1 Law number 38 of 1967, General Public Cleansing
Law 38/1967 on General Public Cleansing is the primary law governing the management of solid
waste in Egypt. It was enacted in 1967 and replaced all previous laws dealing with solid waste
including Law 97/1956 on Organization of Garbage Collection and Transfer, Law 159/1953 on
Cleansing Public Squares, Streets and Highways, and Law 151/1947 on Cleansing Fences and
Unused Areas. Since 1967, it has been amended four times. In 1968, the Minister of Housing (MoH)
issued the executive regulations for the law (MoH 134/1968).
4.2.2 Law Number 4 of 1994 and its amendments Law 9/2009, Environment Law
Law 4 /1994 on the Environment and its amendments in Law 9/2009 are the over-riding
environmental laws for Egypt. Article 3 of the Presidential Decree issuing Law 4/1994 repeals all
provisions of other laws running counter to the provisions of Law 4/1994. One article in Law
4/1994 addresses general solid waste management and another addresses the management of
construction and demolition debris. In addition, five articles address hazardous waste management.
4.2.3 Law Number 48 of 1982, Protection of the River Nile and its Canals
Law 48/1982 is the law for protection of the Nile and its canals. The executive regulations for Law
48/1982 were issued by Minister of Irrigation Decree Number 8 of 1983 (MoI 8/1983). The law and
its executive regulations and amendments in January 2013 by ministerial decision 92/2013 is
primarily focus on wastewater discharges to the Nile and its canals, but also contain articles that
include solid waste.
4.2.4 Laws Concerning Public Ways
Two laws concerning public ways, such as highways, streets, and squares, Law 140/1956,
Occupation of Public Ways and Law 84/1968, Concerning Public Ways, contain restrictions on
solid waste management and disposal.
4.3 Laws on WEEE Management
Egypt has listed WEEE is under the category of the hazardous waste list issued by the Ministry of
Industry (decision 165/2002), item 16. As WEEE is identified as hazardous waste by the
aforementioned decision articles addressing hazardous waste management in law 4/94 regulate it
Following table provides a summary the laws/regulations stated above and influence it has on
WEEE management process
4.4 Laws Influencing WEEE Recycling Industry
There is no law on WEEE in Egypt. Following are the laws that have impact on the WEEE industry
of the country

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4.4.1 Age of Imports
A decree restricting the imports of old EEE equipment with exception of some EEE goods
conditional it is not longer than 5 years from day of production.
Decree 603 of year 2007 of the Ministry of Trade and Industry amending parts of the Executive
Regulations of the Law of Import and Export and the operational procedures for inspection of
goods.
4.4.2 Second Hand Telecommunication Equipment Import
Law No.10 of 2003 provides in Article 46 prohibits the import of used telecommunication
equipment for purpose of trading
4.4.3 WEEE Import
Decree 165 of year 2002 of ministry of industry prohibits the importing of WEEE
4.4.4 The Egyptian Law of Auction
The Egyptian Law of Auction is Law 89 for 1998 about Tenders and Auctions. It is only enforced
over the public sector and the governmental sectors. This law does not apply to the private sector;
otherwise, it is only the company's policy to undergo an auction.
4.5 Social Laws
4.5.1 Law Number 137 of 1981, Labor Law
Law 137/1981 requires employers to inform employees of the dangers associated with handling
solid waste and requires employers to provide safety equipment and training to employees handling
solid waste. This law is enforced the Ministry of Manpower.
4.5.2 Child Labor
Egypt has ratified both ILO (International Labor organization) conventions No. 138 (minimum age
Convention) and ILO convention No. 182 (convention concerning the prohibition and immediate
action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor).
4.5.3 Freedom of Association
Article 55 of Egypt’s 1971 constitution guarantees freedom of association and Article 56 of the
constitution guarantees the right to unionize, however in practice these rights are heavily restricted.
4.6 Institutional Framework of Solid Waste Management
Institutional framework in Egypt works over three phases. First phase is national scale policy and
planning where the Central Government is affiliated with this task. Second phase is implementation,

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where in case polices dealing with environment and waste, A steering committee Ministry of
Environment (MoE), Ministry of Local Development and Ministry of Finance are affiliated with
this task. Last phase which is the operation, either the governorates are responsible for all the
activities by itself and can contract private enterprise or the municipalities responsible for
implementation of the system, monitoring, inspection and trainings.

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4.7 Governmental Bodies Affiliated with WEEE Management
Table 5. Governmental bodies related to WEEE management
Entity Note
Ministry of Environment (MoE)
Egyptian Environmental Affairs
Agency (EEAA)
Waste Management Regulatory
Authority (WMRA)
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency is the executive arm of the
Ministry of Communication and
Information Technology
(MCIT)
The MCIT and MoE have signed Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) in February 2010 to launch the Egyptian Green ICT Strategy.
MCIT and MoE have conducted several initiatives to introduce WEEE
management principles. The MCIT is keen to address the WEEE
management in the green ICT strategy
Ministry of Trade and Industry
(MTI)
Egyptian National Cleaner
Production Center (ENCPC)
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) established the Egypt
National Cleaner Production Centre (ENCPC) in 2005 in close
cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) with the aim to promote green technologies,
revolutionize current national and local practices and transfer the
required knowledge for environmental friendly industries.
Ministry of Finance The auction of absolute EEE in public organizations is regulated and
supervised by the Ministry of Finance. Furthermore, The Egyptian
Customs Authority as part of Ministry of Finance inspect and monitors
the flow of electric and electronic equipment in and out of Egypt
National Telecom Regulatory
Authority (NTRA)
NTRA requires importers of telecommunication equipment to manage
safely telecommunication electronic14
waste in order to issue them
permit. This is intercepted through Waste Tracking Form, where
telecommunication equipment importers require submitting annually.
NTRA accepts the following ways of safely managing electronic waste:
Sending the waste to Nasreya hazardous landfill, delivering the
electronic waste to WEEE management firms (e.g. ITG) and selling of
telecommunication electronic waste in public auctions.
General Authority of
Government Services (GAGS)
The GAGS auctions the movable and immovable property of
administrative body and public authorities after being authorized by
those entities, in order to eliminate the problem of overstock and scrap
(this includes electronic waste). Also, the GAGS auctions goods and
commodities that are obsolete or confiscated by customs.
Hazardous Waste Management
Unit (HWMU) in Nasreya
recycling and disposal center
It was established as part of Finnish Egyptian cooperation for the
design and construction of hazardous waste treatment system where the
Governor of Alexandria issued a decree No.416 in 2000 to establish a
unit of hazardous management. The project constitute of two phases,
Phase I of the facility includes a secure landfill and solar evaporation
ponds to receive wastes, and Phase II includes mechanical and chemical
treatment, solidification, and interim storage.
14
Includes but not limited to: mobiles, telephones, radio telephones, telephone systems, IP cameras

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Table 6.Laws with influence on WEEE management
Law or Regulation Main Content Influence on WEEE management process Institutional Roles
1. Egyptian National Regulations relevant to WEEE
Law of the Environment
No. 4/1994 and its
amendments by law
number 9/2009 and its
executive regulations
Law 4/1994 and its executive
regulations represent the main
regulation concerned with
environment issues in Egypt.
The law addresses managing of the
different types of waste including
solid waste, construction waste and
hazardous waste. The law does not
address or mention WEEE of any
type. The Law however addresses
wastes in a clear manner and
implicitly addresses WEEE among
other types of wastes described as
hazardous and dangerous
regulations also contain provisions
requiring environmental impact
assessment of establishments,
control of air and noise emissions
from establishments, and worker
safety.
The law requires the ministers, each
in his field of competence, to issue in
coordination with the Minister of
Health and EEAA a table of the
hazardous substances and waste
referred in paragraph one of article
29
Provisions related to hazardous waste
 Under the law of the environment WEEE
is considered a form of hazardous waste.
 As well as determining the obligations of
producers of hazardous wastes.
 Stipulations of the law are related to the
conditions and requirements for the
management and treatment of hazardous
wastes in general which are applicable for
WEEE in this case.
Provisions related to import of hazardous waste
 Article 32 of law 4/1994 forbids to import
hazardous waste or to allow its
introduction into or its passage through
Egyptian territories. It is forbidden
without a permit from the competent
authority to allow the passage of ships
carrying hazardous waste in territorial seas
or in the exclusive maritime economic
zone of Egypt.
 Relevant international conventions signed
by Egypt are applicable in this concern. i.e.
Basel convention which controls the
transboundary movement of hazardous
wastes and their disposal. As mandated in
Article 4 not to allow the export of
hazardous wastes or other wastes to a State
or group of States belonging to an
economic and/or political integration
organization that are Parties, particularly
Local authorities
 They are empowered to enforce
regulations that address solid waste
management.
EEAA
 EEAA is responsible for
approving sites for treatment,
burning and disposal of solid
waste
 EEAA is granting permission for
transportation of hazardous waste.
 Implementing the specifications
for solid waste containers and
collection vehicles.
Other Ministers
 Ministers (within their respective
scope), and in coordination with
the Minister of Health and the
Environmental Affairs Agency, are
responsible to issue a list of
hazardous materials.
Judicial officers
 Local government authorities are
granted the right to enforce Law
4/1994, by the Minister of Justice
decree number 1353 (MoJ
1353/1996) including governor’s

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developing countries, which have
prohibited by their legislation all imports,
or if it has reason to believe that the wastes
in question will not be managed in an
environmentally sound manner, according
to criteria to be decided on by the Parties
at their first meeting represents the legal
base for prohibition of importing
hazardous waste. In which, this can
represent the legal base to limit the
importing of some hazardous waste.
 Executive regulation number 338/1995,
amended by decrees 1095/2011 and
964/2015, stipulates that handling of
hazardous wastes requires prior permit
from EEAA. It also specifies the
documentation, procedures, and conditions
for obtaining the permit. As well as the
general requirements and procedures for
the collection, storage, transportation,
treatment, disposal of hazardous wastes
(articles 29 to 30 of the law and 25-33 of
the executive regulation).
Provisions related to requirements for waste
treatment facilities
 Provisions related to EIA (articles 12, 20,
21 and 23) for waste management facilities
are applicable to facilities that will be
working with WEEE such as recycling and
composting plants, medical waste
treatment facilities, and sanitary landfills.
Hence these regulations are also relevant.
Provisions related to waste treatment and
deputies, town mayors, district and
village heads, and the managers of
environment offices in the
governorates.
Article 103 of Law 4/1994 gives every
citizen and organization concerned with
the protection of the environment the right
to report violations of the law to
competent authorities.

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disposal
 Law 4/1994 and its executive regulations
prohibit disposing or treating garbage and
solid waste anywhere except in an area
designated by the local authorities.
 This law prohibits burning of solid waste
(article 37 of the law and 35 of the
executive regulations). Prohibition is
absolute for open burning, but allows
incineration, provided it meets the
specifications in the regulations.
Provision related to safe work environment and
protection of environment from pollutant
 Law 4/1994 article 34 to 47 requires
WEEE treatment facility to comply with
national permissible level of emissions.
Law number 38 of 1967,
General Public Cleansing
(amended by law 31/1976,
Law 209/1980, Law
177/1981, and Law
129/1982)
Law 38/1967 on General Public
Cleansing is the primary law
governing the management of solid
waste in Egypt. It was enacted in
1967 and replaced all previous laws
dealing with solid waste including
Law 97/1956 on Organization of
Garbage Collection and Transfer,
Law 159/1953 on Cleansing Public
Squares, Streets and Highways, and
Law 151/1947 on Cleansing Fences
and Unused Areas. Since 1967, it has
been amended four times. In 1968,
the Minister of Housing (MoH)
issued the executive regulations for
the law (MoH 134/1968).
 Law 38 of 1967 and its executive
regulations prohibit placing solid waste
anywhere except in an area designated by
the local council.
 This prohibition applies to treatment and
disposal of solid waste as well as to
temporary placement in an undesignated
container.
 Law 38/1967 authorizes the local council
to impose a fee on building inhabitants of
not more than two percent of their rent to
fund solid waste management. This fee,
along with all fines collected for violation
of Law 38/1967, must be placed in a
 The law and its regulations require
the local government authority
responsible for general cleansing
or a contractor licensed by the
local authority to collect, transfer,
and dispose of solid waste in
accordance with the specifications
in the executive regulations as well
as those of the local council.
 If a local authority contracts solid
waste services, the contractor is
responsible for the actions of the
garbage collectors it hires.
General Cleansing

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general cleansing fund established by the
local council. The fund must be used for
general cleansing. These funds can be
augmented by funds from the general
budget to insure adequate funding for solid
waste management.
 Law 38/1967 also requires owners of open
land to remove accumulated waste and
keep the land cleansed. The executive
regulations authorize the local authority to
remove solid waste from open land at the
owner’s expense, if the owner does not do
so within 15 days after notification.
 Article 1 in Presidential Decree
Number 272 of 1982 (PD
272/1982) transferred jurisdiction
for general cleansing from the
Ministry of Housing to local
administrative units.
Law Number 48 of 1982,
amended by ministerial
decree (92/2013)
concerning the Protection
of the River Nile and its
Canals
Law 48/1982 is the law for
protection of the Nile river, canals
and drains as well as ground water.
The executive regulations for Law
48/1982 were issued by Minister of
Irrigation Decree Number 8 of 1983
(MoI 8/1983). The law and its
executive regulations and
amendments in January 2013 by
ministerial decision 92/2013 is
primarily focus on wastewater
discharges to the Nile river, canals
and drains, but also contain articles
that prohibit disposal of solid waste
close to the banks.
Both Law 48/1982 and its executive regulations
prohibit the disposal of solid waste in the Nile,
canals and drains. The executive regulations extend
this prohibition to the temporary or permanent
placement of solid wastes on the banks of the Nile
and its canals. The executive regulations define
solid wastes as solid materials (including refuse,
garbage, sweeping materials, dry rubbish, fractured
stons, construction and demolition debris, and
workshop scraps) generated by individuals,
residential units, non-residential units
(governmental, commercial, industrial, tourist), and
means of transportation.
Article 19 of Law 48/1982 authorizes
Irrigation Engineers in the Ministry of
Irrigation to enforce the law within their
jurisdictions. Article 13 assigns the Water
Police of the Ministry of Interior with the
responsibility to assist the implementing
authorities in identifying violations of Law
48/1982, informing violators, and
removing the causes of violations.
Laws Concerning Public
Roads
Two laws concerning public ways,
such as highways, streets, and
squares, Law 140/1956, Occupation
of Public Ways and Law 84/1968,
Concerning Public Ways, contain
restrictions on solid waste
management and disposal.
Law 84/1968 prohibits placing solid wastes on
public ways. Law 140/1956 and its executive
regulations, issued by Minister of Municipal and
Rural Affairs (MoMRA) Decree number 395 of
1956 (MoMRA 395/1956), deal primarily with
granting licenses for occupation of public ways
within the borders of areas with local councils. One

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of the activities that require a license is placement
of construction and demolition debris in a public
way.
Law Number 12/2003
Labor Law
Law 137/1981 requires employers to
inform employees of the dangers
associated with handling solid waste
and requires employers to provide
safety equipment and training to
employees handling solid waste.
This law mandates all workers handling WEEE to
wear appropriate personal protective equipment
(PPE).
Law 12/2013 also prohibits child labor.
This law is enforced by the Ministry of
Manpower.
Ministerial Decree
770/2005 and Decree 603
of year 2007– Issued by
the Minister of Trade and
Industry
During 2005, the Minister of Trade
and Industry has issued a decree
prohibiting importing personal
computers that are older than 5 years
(instead of 10 years in the previous
decrees).
Decree 603 of year 2007 restricting
the imports of old EEE equipment
with exception of some EEE goods
conditional it is not longer than 5
years from day of production.
This Ministerial Decree 770/2005 of the import
regulations of the Customs Law allows importing
used Computer sets and assistant hardware
provided that their production date is not later than
five years, which results in importing computer sets
with lifetime almost at end.
Telecommunications law
number 10/2003
Law No.10 of 2003 provides in
Article 46 that it is “It is prohibited
to import used Telecommunication
Terminal Equipment for the purpose
of trading”
The definition of the telecommunication equipment
here is telecommunication equipment used by a
user to connect with a public or private
telecommunication network.
The Egyptian Law of
Auction (law 89/1998)
The Egyptian Law of Auction is Law
89 for 1998 about Tenders and
Auctions.
Governmental and public institutions are obligated
to do tenders and auctions in accordance to law
89/1998. As there is no particular environmental
sound management/requirement on auctions for
obsolete items/WEEE that participants require
adhering to, this subjects WEEE auctions
vulnerable to informal sector collection.
This law does not apply to the private sector;
otherwise, it is only the company's policy to
undergo an auction
Ministerial Decree No. In relation to the General Conditions Disposal of solid wastes in a safely manner.

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380/1975 issued by the
Ministry of Housing and
Development
of Industrial and Commercial
Establishments, and Other
Establishments Adversely Affects
Health and Dangerous.
Determining the location of the establishments the
activity of which adversely affects the safety of
housing areas.
Ministerial decree 165 of
year 2002 by the Ministry
of Industry and Trade
List of hazardous waste15 pertinent
to the Ministry of Industry and
Industrial Development that prohibit
importing of the hazardous waste
stipulated in the list to Egypt.
Egypt Green ICT strategy Reducing the adverse environmental
impacts related to the use of
Telecommunications and
Information Technologies
equipment
 The policy aims to mainstream green ICT
with all sectors to help wise management
of Egypt's resources and provide
innovative solutions to enhance the quality
of life of the Egyptians.
 The strategy calls for ensuring the
sustainable management of WEEE
2. International Regulations relevant to WEEE
Basel Convention on the
Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal
The Rotterdam
Convention on
multilateral agreement to
promote shared
responsibilities in relation
to the international trade
of certain hazardous
chemicals
Determination of the categories and
characteristics of hazardous wastes.
Stipulations on minimizing the
generation of hazardous wastes.
Stipulations on the environmentally
sound management of hazardous
wastes. Prohibition of exporting
hazardous wastes to contracting
parties in specific cases. Prohibition
of importation of hazardous wastes
in specific cases. Regulations and
obligations relating to the
transportation and transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes.
The Nairobi Declaration on the
Environmentally Sound Management of
Electrical and Electronic Waste and
decision IX/6 adopted by the ninth
meeting of the Conference of the Parties
gave a mandate to the Secretariat to
implement a work plan for the
environmentally sound management of
WEEE.
Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic
Key elements of the Convention
include the requirement that
15
http://www.nasreya.com/List1Ar.html

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Pollutants (POPs) is an
international
environmental treaty that
aims to eliminate or
restrict the production and
use of persistent organic
pollutants (POPs).
developed countries provide new and
additional financial resources and
measures to eliminate production
and use of intentionally produced
POPs, eliminate unintentionally
produced POPs where feasible, and
manage and dispose of POPs wastes
in an environmentally sound manner.
Precaution is exercised throughout
the Stockholm Convention, with
specific references in the preamble,
the objective, and the provision on
identifying new POPs. Egypt has
ratified the convention on
02/05/2003
Bamako Convention on
the Ban of the Import into
Africa and the Control of
Transboundary Movement
and Management of
Hazardous Wastes within
Africa
Prohibition of importation of
hazardous wastes. Prohibition of
dumping hazardous wastes at sea and
internal waters. Determination of
the hazardous wastes categories and
characteristics. Stipulations on
environmentally sound management
of hazardous wastes. Stipulations on
minimizing the generation of
hazardous wastes. Regulations and
obligations relating to the
transportation and transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes.
International Labor
Organization (ILO)
convention No. 138 and
convention No.182
Egypt has ratified ILO convention
No.138 and No.182, which mandates
minimum age for working and
prohibits and immediate action for
elimination of the worst forms of
child labor respectively.
2004 - Ratification of the Identification of used products/articles
allowed for import.

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Ban Amendment.
2004 - Ratification of
Bamako Convention.
2006 - Ratification of
hazardous waste protocol
of Barcelona Convention.
Development of trade
policies and regulations.
Egypt commitments at
CTE/WTO
Egypt-EU Partnership
Agreement/ Egypt-EU
Free Trade Agreement.
Continuous determination of industry
needs (secondary raw materials e.g. used
plastics, paper, glass…)
Limitation of imports of used e-products.
Specific measure to protect local
manufacture of EEE. (quality control,
efficiency, incentives..…)

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5 Stakeholder Assessment
Overview
There is no formal legislation to manage and enforce WEEE management in Egypt. Electronic
waste is majorly dealt by informal sector, after extracting the recyclable streams it is generally either
burned or thrown into landfills/dump sites in slums such as Manshiet Nasser, mokattam or Dewei’a.
Over time, harmful emissions start to affect the people who are living near those landfills. In the
absence of serious national programs for WEEE management, along with decreasing cost of buying
new technologies especially mobile phones and personal computers and the surge in perceptive
obsolescence due to better technologies introduced in market, it is anticipated that more WEEE will
be disposed in such dumpsites/landfills and unknown fate.
The life cycle chain of the EEE/WEEE will assist in identifying the stakeholders connecting
different phases of the life cycle of the electrical and electronic equipment. The following chain
reflects the life cycle of the electric and electronic equipment in Egypt. It is a five-step value chain
covering the following:
1. EEE production/import: Electrical and electronic equipment imported into the country or
manufactured within the country.
2. EEE sales: Electrical and Electronic equipment in the market, ready for sales to end user.
3. EEE consumption: Consumption by households, private and public entities.
4. WEEE generation: The end of useful use of EEE and disposing to collectors/merchants.
5. Re-use / down cycle: Disposed EEE, which can be fixed or refurbished for second hand
consumer
6. WEEE treatment/ Re-cycle: Applied process to EEE (e.g. dismantling) to extract useful
fractions.
7. Secondary raw material: Specific fractions, which are reused as a feedstock for other industries
(e.g. copper, plastics, iron and etc..)
8. Secondary raw material: Fractions such as electric boards, which are exported to other countries
e.g. Belgium
Figure 2. Life cycle chain of EEE/WEEE

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5.1 Manufacturers and Imports
Personal Computers and Computer Monitors
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) country's ICT profile for 2013 indicates that
45.1 % of Egyptian households have computers and the official statistics show household PC
penetration reached 51.8% in Egypt at the end of 2013. 36.8 % of individuals are using a computer
in 201416
. In this study, it is assumed that the computer's monitors in use are directly proportional to
the desktop computer penetration rate in the country. According to BMI market research Company
in 2012, personal computer's (PC) penetration is expected to grow 20% by 2015 with annual
personal computer sales that can reach 500,000 pieces. This goes in line with Egypt’s IT sustained
initiatives to leverage personal computer's penetration, one of such major initiatives is the
“Computer for Every Student” and “PC for Every Home”. Households represents 20-25% of the
computer annual sales17
There is not thorough quantification of CRT and LCD computer monitors installed in household,
but CRT production was seized in 2009/2010 in many parts of the world due to the environmental
hazardous it imposes and the surge of LCD monitor technology. The last CRT factory in Europe
was closed on the 28th
of September 201218
and it is assumed that that CRT monitors were no
longer put in the market since 2009.
The following graph illustrates the number of computer monitors imported to Egypt by the Central
Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics
16
Egypt Information Technology Report Q1 2016, BMI Research Firm
17
Egypt Information Technology Report Q4 2011, BMI Research Firm
18
http://www.crtsite.com/page3-2.html, retrieved August 15, 2016
Figure 3.Computer Screen units Import. Display unit (x1000). Source: CAPMAS
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
ComputermonitorunitsImport(x1000)
Year
Year
Computer monitor
units import
2006 131007
2007 287251
2008 297973
2009 405005
2010 422588
2011 444689
2012 1090339
2013 914530
2014 400500
2015 290137
Imports of year 2015 is not final

Assessment of WEEE Management in Egypt

Assessment of WEEE Management in Egypt

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