Sustainable Development Forum in Assiut Discusses Solid Waste Management

As part of the partnership between the Local Sustainable Development Forum in Assiut Governorate and the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), the Childhood and Development Association, the local forum’s coordinator, organized a consultative meeting on crisis and disaster management. The event was held at the Nile Media Center in Assiut and is part of a series of meetings organized by local sustainable development forums across governorates. These forums were launched as an initiative by the Arab Office for Youth and Environment to support the role of civil society in enhancing communities’ resilience in the face of crises and disasters.

The meeting focused on discussing the issue of solid waste in its various forms and its environmental and natural resource hazards. Key topics included the problem of pollution from single-use plastic waste, raising awareness about safe and environmentally friendly alternatives, and exploring mechanisms for the safe disposal of electronic waste.

Discussions also addressed methods to reduce persistent organic pollutants, standards for the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, and the importance of recycling agricultural waste into animal feed and organic fertilizers. These efforts aim to preserve natural resources and transform waste, which poses a burden on ecosystems, into economically valuable products that create new job opportunities and improve the living standards of local communities.

The meeting witnessed the participation of various environmental stakeholders in Assiut, executive leaders in the governorate, representatives from civil society organizations, as well as youth and women’s organizations. Discussions among participants culminated in several recommendations, including proposals for the safe disposal of agricultural waste and increased awareness of the dangers of single-use plastics and available alternatives.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of the role played by the Local Sustainable Development Forum in Assiut. They called for encouraging this role through collective efforts among all parties to unify visions for enhancing the resilience of local communities. Additionally, participants advocated for expanding networking and coordination frameworks among governmental, civil, and private sectors to mitigate the adverse effects of various environmental risks and disasters.