How is hazardous waste handled and managed?

The Waste Regulatory and Management Agency at the Ministry of Environment follows up on all operations related to waste management, in accordance with Law No. 202 of 2020, which obligates setting controls for the management or generation of industrial waste, recycling and treating it in a sound and safe manner, and also obligating free, industrial and investment zones to develop a complete plan for managing their waste, according to The plan should be updated and reviewed periodically.

In light of this, Al-Shorouk reviews the controls for dealing with hazardous industrial waste, in accordance with the law:

The law and its executive regulations specify the details, tasks, and competencies of establishing a body to regulate and manage waste, and to follow up, monitor, and manage this waste through an integrated department to combat industrial pollution.

The law established a strategy for the disposal of industrial waste.

– Identifying the competent administrative authority to establish treatment sites for hazardous industrial waste or their final disposal.
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– The approval of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority is obtained, and the opinion of the ministries and relevant authorities related to the matter is taken, including the Industrial Development Authority, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Local Development, and the Ministry of Investment.

Article 47 clarifies that industrial zones, free zones, investment zones, and the Public Authority for Industrial Development must develop an integrated plan for industrial waste management, provided that the plan is updated and reviewed periodically.

Article 48 of the law states that the generator of industrial waste must maintain a register of these wastes called the “Industrial Waste Register.” The executive regulations of this law establish a model for this register, including their classification, quantities, types, and how to deal with them.

– The Public Authority for Industrial Development, in coordination with the Agency, is responsible for following up the “Industrial Waste Register” and ensuring that its data conforms to reality, and the industrial waste generator is obligated to notify the Authority and the Agency of the register on a periodic basis, in accordance with the executive regulations of this law.

– The industrial waste generator is also obligated to completely separate it from other waste and deliver it to the persons licensed to do so.

– Reducing the use of hazardous materials completely, and finding alternative solutions, including searching for less toxic materials, and the possibility of replacing them with other industries, or introducing them into other industrial processes.

– Establishing hazardous waste exchange rooms in industrial areas, and linking them to the Internet for monitoring and follow-up.

– Maximizing the utilization of hazardous industrial waste.
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– Providing production sites in the food industries with technology for chopping and sterilizing infectious materials and products to prevent contamination with toxic inorganic or persistent organic pollutants.

The waste resulting from the manufacturing of industries is reused in the manufacture of unconventional feed, energy production, or organic fertilizers, or is disposed of with safe burial.

– The Waste Regulatory and Management Authority sets regulations and laws for the safe disposal of hazardous waste and provides all technical services and consultations.