Vermiculture in Egypt: - FAO - Regional Office for the Near East and

4.1.1. Weak points in rice straw system in Egypt
There is an extreme shortage of the combining, raking and baling machines,
and no enough trucks to transport the ready straw bales (economical problem).
In addition, the un-paved dirt roads that makes the transportation between
farms and market (economical and managerial problems) almost impossible.
On the other hands, agricultural co-operations have to work to provide a
storage place for the ready bales, trucks and some mechanical equipment to
overcome the previous obstacles. To facilitate such work, GIS maps should
provide the farms sites in each governorate and a full study of the road status
that will be used for the transportation.
4.2. Urban wastes
Main four systems were involved in solid waste management before the trend to
privatization; The Governmental system including Cairo and Giza "Cleansing and
Beautification Authorities". These central agencies were responsible for municipal
solid waste activities including regulation of private service delivery. In spite of
creating such powerful entities, they were not effective and faced lots of problems.
The second system is the conventional Zabbaleen (informal waste collectors) system,
which offers door-to-door service in return for the monthly fee. Thirdly, there is the
formal private sector system, which has been introduced in larger cities and some
provincial towns. Each private operator must have a collection license or a service
contract for his assigned area from the local municipality. Finally, there is Non
Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which perform some limited solid waste
services, especially in rural areas and small cities.
4.2.1. Overview of solid waste management problem in Egypt
The problem of solid waste management in Egypt has been growing at an alarming
rate. Its negative manifestations, as well as its direct and indirect harmful
consequences on public health, environment and national economy (particularly as
related to manpower productivity and tourism) are becoming quite apparent and acute.
In large cities like Cairo and Alexandria the problem reached such serious proportions
that they called for considerable government intervention and a series of judicious
actions in the short, medium, and long term.
In essence, the problem –as described in the National Waste Management Strategy
2000- lies in the fact that:
"The present systems could not satisfy the served community needs with its various
strata for a reasonably accepted cleansing level, as well as in reducing the negative
health and environmental impacts, or in improving the aesthetic appearance".
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