Egypt reports 24.8% drop in waste-burning points during autumn anti-pollution drive

Egypt's Environment Ministry reported autumn air-pollution control results, citing a 24.8 percent reduction in agricultural waste-burning points.

• Minister Manal Awad said satellite monitoring recorded 486 waste-burning points from Sept. 1 to Oct. 7, down 24.8 percent from 647 a year earlier.
• Awad said the ministry collected 1,216,075 tons of rice straw across seven Delta governorates during the campaign.
• The ministry said the effort avoided an estimated 16,611 tons of pollutant emissions, including 7,280 tons of particulate matter.
• Awad said 88 joint campaigns checked exhaust emissions from 3,208 vehicles, with 2,298 passing inspection.