No. Burning trash in Egypt is illegal under multiple environmental laws, with enforcement tightening via 2024 amendments to Law No. 4/1994 and local governorate decrees. Violations risk fines up to EGP 500,000 or imprisonment under the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) 2026 framework.
Key Regulations for Burning Trash in Egypt
- Law No. 4/1994 (Environmental Law): Prohibits open burning of municipal or hazardous waste without permits from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), classifying it as a criminal offense under Article 80.
- Law No. 202/2020 (Waste Management Law): Mandates centralized waste collection and processing, explicitly banning on-site burning to curb air pollution and public health risks.
- Local Governorate Decrees: Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria governorates enforce additional bans via municipal bylaws, with municipal police authorized to issue fines (EGP 1,000–10,000) for violations under Law No. 106/2021.
Non-compliance triggers penalties under the Penal Code (Law No. 58/1937), where unauthorized burning may constitute public nuisance (Article 178) or endangerment (Article 180). The EEAA’s 2026 compliance audits prioritize urban areas, deploying drones to detect illegal burn sites. Exemptions exist only for agricultural waste burning under strict Agricultural Law No. 53/1966, requiring prior notification to the Ministry of Agriculture.