Over 500 tons of rubbish is generated every day in the Hurghada region and until the initiation of HEPCA’s solid waste management strategy, the collection and disposal of this waste was mostly sporadic and unregulated. HEPCA has developed a solid waste management system for the Red Sea in cooperation with USAID, the EEAA, the National Parks of Egypt and the Association for the Protection of the Environment (APE), and with donations from the private sector.

The system comprises the following:

• Two material recovery facilities (MRF) – one situated in the Hurghada area and the other at Marsa Alam
• An at-source waste separation scheme that separates organic and non-organic matter at the generation point i.e. hotel
• Collection and transportation for separated waste items
• Provision of organic waste to the local community for animal feed
• Recovery of the non-organic waste in the MRF where waste is sorted, processed and traded through to recycling firms
• Management of a controlled dumpsite for non-recyclables
• Implementation of clean up and awareness campaigns

HEPCA’s solid waste management strategy not only focuses on the collection and recycling of waste, but also provides valuable employment opportunities to the local community in waste collection, transportation and staffing at the facilities.

Further employment and income is also generated through the selling on of recyclable material. Another positive effect of the strategy has been the overall increase in environmental awareness and education throughout the entire region including hotels, dive centres, resorts, and local communities and schools.