Saturday 10/January/2026 – 05:16 PM
Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, inspected the Abu Zaabal dump site in Qalyubia Governorate, to follow up on the executive position of the safe closure and rehabilitation works, and to review the results of the technical and environmental studies that were completed, as part of the state’s plan for the safe disposal of random dumps.
Environment: Closing the Abu Zaabal dumpsite and turning it into a sustainable green space within the state’s plan for integrated waste management
During the visit, Dr. Manal Awad reviewed the environmental situation of the site, as the area of the Abu Zaabal dump is about 125 acres, and it receives about 1,570 tons per day of municipal solid waste, in addition to a historical accumulation of waste estimated at about 15 million cubic meters since 1998, with heights exceeding 30 meters, and the presence of adjacent lakes with a depth of about 16 meters.
The Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of the Environment explained that a project to close and rehabilitate the municipal solid waste landfill in the Abu Zaabal area in the Khanka Center is currently being launched, within the framework of the “Air Pollution and Climate Change Management in Greater Cairo” project funded by the World Bank, noting that bids were officially invited for the project on December 29, 2025, with a total implementation period of 28 months from the date of the start of work.
She added that the project includes forming a waste mass, implementing safe closure works, and landscaping the site to transform it into a sustainable green area after completion, stressing the importance of changing current disposal practices that do not follow health standards, and the gas emissions and environmental damage they cause. She explained that the engineering closure of the dump will achieve tangible positive environmental impacts and contribute to improving air quality and protecting public health.
Dr. Manal Awad confirmed that the project to close and rehabilitate the Abu Zaabal dump represents a pivotal step within the state’s strategy to transform into an integrated and sustainable waste management system. It is a model of integration between the state, the local community and international partners, and reflects the government’s commitment to achieving sustainable environmental development with integrated environmental, social and economic dimensions.
