On October 9, 2021, Egypt’s prime minister, Mostafa Madbouly, announced that he had reviewed measures adopted and enforced by the Ministry of Environment during September 2021 to combat an environmental phenomenon called “black clouds.” These black clouds develop over Cairo and the Nile Delta during this time of the year and have a negative impact on air quality.
The Cause of Black Clouds
The illegal burning of agricultural waste, especially rice straw, is the main cause of black clouds. This illegal burning blankets the skies with thick, black smoke every year between September and mid-November, when farmers harvest their crops and burn the waste.
Measures to Combat Black Clouds
The Ministry of Environment has adopted and enforced a number of measures to combat the black clouds phenomenon, including:
1. Implementing criminal penalties for the illegal burning of agricultural waste provided in Law No. 202-2020.
2. Enforcing Law No. 202-2020 by issuing a list of designated locations for the collection and recycling of rice straw.
3. Monitoring public and random landfills and garbage collection areas by means of traveling teams and satellite images to prevent illegal burning of rice straw.
4. Providing farmers with equipment to collect, shred, and press the rice straw.
Law No. 202 of 2020 on the Department of Waste Management
Law No. 202 of 2020 aims at regulating the use of agricultural and industrial waste. It also creates a new department at the Ministry of Environment called the Department of Waste Management. (Law No. 202-2020, art. 3.) The law identifies the mission, objectives, and functions of the Department of Waste Management. (Arts. 2, 4, 5.)
Furthermore, the law prohibits the burning of all types of waste, including agricultural waste. (Art. 20.) Additionally, it requires eliminating agricultural waste in designated locations assigned by the Ministry of Environment. (Art. 45.)
Law No. 202 of 2020 punishes individuals who burn agricultural waste illegally with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of 50,000 to 1 million Egyptians pounds (about US$2,786 to $55,727), or both. (Art. 70.) Additionally, the law imposes a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 Egyptian pounds (about US$537 to $5,370) on individuals who eliminate waste in locations that are not designated by the Ministry of Environment. (Art. 71(a).)
Individuals who have permission to eliminate agricultural waste in the locations designated by the Ministry of Environment must eliminate such waste by following environmentally friendly methods. (Art. 18.) Violators are punishable by the suspension of their permit to eliminate agricultural waste for a period of one to six months and a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 Egyptian pounds.