Young Recyclers Transform Cairo’s Garbage City, Tackling Plastic Pollution

Young Recyclers Transform Cairo’s Garbage City, Tackling Plastic Pollution
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Manshiyet Nasr, a neighborhood on Cairo’s outskirts known as Garbage City, is home to 200,000 residents who handle up to 80% of the city’s waste, The Guardian reported. Despite its vital role in managing Cairo’s rubbish, the community has long faced stigma due to the overwhelming piles of garbage and poor living conditions.

A new generation of young, educated residents is changing that narrative by embracing recycling not only as a job but as a mission to combat plastic pollution and climate change. One such individual, Mina Nedi, a nursing graduate, chose to work in his family’s recycling business rather than pursue a hospital career. Motivated by environmental concerns, he educates peers about reducing plastic consumption and promoting recycling.

Families in Manshiyet Nasr work together collecting, sorting, and compressing waste, turning it into valuable resources for reuse. This collective effort is gaining respect and shifting perceptions both within and outside the community.

The global plastic crisis is severe, with plastic production contributing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the world’s sixth-largest economy. The Middle East-North Africa region has the highest per capita plastic leakage into oceans, making Manshiyet Nasr’s recycling efforts critical.

Partnerships with organizations like Plastic Bank and startups such as Ocean Bottle support the community’s work by funding plastic collection and raising awareness. As young recyclers lead change, Manshiyet Nasr is becoming a symbol of environmental hope amid Cairo’s waste challenges.