On April 15, 2025, the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) programme in Egypt officially concluded with a final meeting in Cairo, marking the end of a ten-year journey that significantly advanced sustainable e-waste management in the country. Organized by the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the event highlighted key achievements and lasting contributions to Egypt’s transition toward a circular economy.
Leaders Reflect at Final Meeting
The ceremony featured opening remarks from Engineer Mahmoud Badawi, Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation (MCIT), Mr. Yasser Abdullah, CEO of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority, and Mr. Bernhard Soland, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt. Dr. Hossam Allam, Director of Sustainable Growth at CEDARE, chaired the session.
Dr. Mathias Schluep, Managing Director of the World Resources Forum, shared insights from the programme’s global impact, while Ms. Ghada Moghny (CEDARE) and Ms. Esther Thiebaud (dss+) presented the national-level outcomes.
Over the last ten years, SRI has helped transform e-waste from an environmental hazard into a resource opportunity for Egypt,” said Mathias Schluep. “The progress we see today is the result of strong collaboration, innovation, and local ownership.
A Decade of Impact for Sustainable Recycling
From policy development to hands-on training, SRI contributed to major systemic improvements in Egypt:
- Processed e-waste increased from 1,900 tons in 2019 to 6,800 tons in 2023
- Authorized recycling facilities expanded from 6 to 27
- Formal green jobs grew from 100 to 350, with more women entering the sector
- Technical curricula for e-waste management introduced in 19 vocational schools, with 43% female students
- Egypt’s first online e-waste exchange platform launched
- Two incubators established to support recycling-focused startups
- The first NGO with integrated recycling facilities launched to represent recyclers
We’re proud that 43% of students in our vocational training programs are young women,” stated Ghada Moghny, SRI Egypt Project Coordinator. “Empowering the next generation has been a cornerstone of our approach.
A Strategic Partnership for International Collaboration
Initiated in 2016, the SRI programme was implemented by CEDARE in partnership with MCIT, the Ministry of Environment, and the Electronic Research Institute (ERI). At the international level, it was supported by dss+, Empa, the World Resources Forum, and the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
We’ve worked closely with government, academia, and industry to ensure lasting systems are in place,” said Esther Thiebaud, Senior Consultant at dss+. “This legacy will continue to benefit Egypt and inspire similar efforts across the region.
About SRI
The Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) programme contributes to the development of a sustainable recycling industry for e-waste and related waste streams in developing countries. Through recycling initiatives in Colombia, Peru, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa, SRI is building capacity for sustainable e-waste management by supporting national activities and implementing pilot projects. In 2023, activities in Colombia and Peru were concluded. Activities in Egypt, Ghana and South Africa are being concluded in 2025. SRI is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).