Tunisia's Pioneering Recycling Unit: REG Leads the Way in Sustainable Waste Management
In the heart of a 6,000-square-meter site in Ezzahra, a suburb of Tunis, REG - Respect Environnement Group Tunisie - is making a name for itself as the first recycling and valorization unit for demolition waste in Tunisia and Africa. Founded in 2019 through a public-private partnership, the company adopts a green and circular economy approach.
According to its director, Hamza Ben Ali, REG recycles construction and demolition waste, transforming it into reusable materials for road infrastructure at prices 30 to 40% lower than those of extracted materials. With a crushing capacity of 1,000 tons per day, REG is ready to expand its services to other Tunisian municipalities and is considering the implementation of mobile recycling services.
The company has already established a representation in Dubai and is seeking to create partnerships in Italy and Egypt to tackle environmental challenges. By collaborating with various international partners, REG effectively manages construction waste, promoting its transformation into pre-construction products used in road construction.
Looking to the future, REG plans to produce prefabricated elements for infrastructure and has ordered a specialized machine. However, a change in mindset is necessary regarding the acceptance of recycled materials. Currently, REG employs 10 people directly and around 300 indirectly, but is still partially exploiting its potential, working mainly on orders.
Furthermore, the company is developing a digital application that utilizes artificial intelligence to identify valuable construction waste, addressing a major challenge in Tunisia where demolition waste, estimated at 13 million tons, poses a significant environmental threat. The valorization of these waste materials could significantly reduce pollution and illegal dumping.
