Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy said quantities of rice straw were gathered and underwent treatment through compression mechanisms and will later be recycled in a first step to put into effect an agro-waste system introduced by the ministry instead of burning the rice crops' wastes.

In statements to MENA, the minister said rice straw represents 5 percent of the total amount of agricultural wastes, which exceeds 30 million tons annually.

He also said other agro wastes, including rice-straw, rice husk, rice bale, bamboo fiber, sugar baggase, are being handled throughout the year.

The second step in the agro-waste system is the industry, noting that the Ministry of Environment has signed a protocol with a mega cement company to use such waste in the production of energy needed in the cement industry.

He said the company will use around 400,000 to 600,000 tons of agro wastes as a source of its needed thermal fuel.

Sources: MENA