Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad and Minister of Military Production Mohamed El-Assar discussed on Tuesday the latest updates on safe waste disposal during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The meeting touched on the waste management system to be used and the measures and personal protective needs for those working on the system.
According to Ministry of Environment statement, Fouad and Al-Assar discussed new sustainable solutions for the waste system problems. Their discussions had a particular focus on the urgent measures to ensure safe disposal from highly infectious waste in different governorates.
Strict, urgent measures have been taken in quarantined areas to contain the curther spread of the virus, and to make the waste disposal system more efficient.
During the meeting, Al-Assar reviewed his ministry’s efforts in raising the efficiency of processing and recycling factories in several governorates, to help improve the level of cleaning services.
He stressed that the Ministry of Military Production is fully prepared to offer its capabilities in equipment and vehicles to help the waste system cope with the measures. He added that all cleaning workers’ requirements will be be met by providing sterilising and protective equipment to carry out disinfection on a regular basis.
This will come in addition to disinfecting all equipment used in the collection and transport of waste, and other processes.
Yasmine Fouad said her ministry’s Waste Management Regulatory Authority is following up the safe disposal of waste and establishing new waste recycling factories. She added that to prevent the spread of infection among workers, they have been alerted to the need for strictly following preventive measures. This has especially been aimed at those working in the field of waste collection and the transport system.
The Ministry of Environment is providing them with the required protective equipment, such as disinfectants, masks, and special sterilisation equipment.
