Key Takeaways
- Recycling specialists in Cairo's Manshiyet Nasser neighborhood are reaping benefits due to increased demand for plastic.
- The surge is driven by supply shortfalls caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has choked off the Strait of Hormuz.
- Local recyclers now receive calls from factories seeking their materials, a reversal from previous practices.
In Cairo's Manshiyet Nasser neighborhood, known as Garbage City, recycling specialists are experiencing unprecedented demand for plastic due to supply shortfalls caused by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The area, home to over 115,000 residents and a major informal recycling hub, has seen a dramatic shift in its operations.
Peter Romany, a 25-year-old recycling specialist, explains that before the conflict, factories would call him seeking materials. However, since the war began, it is now the factories calling him with urgent requests for supplies. 'They’d ask: How much do you have? Can you deliver today?' Romany told AFP, standing beside towering bales of compressed plastic.
The surge in demand has transformed the operations within Manshiyet Nasser. Families live and work under the same roof, often separated from mountains of waste by little more than a staircase or curtain. Men sort plastics, cardboard, paper, metals, and glass into neat piles destined for workshops and factories, while children study and mothers prepare meals in cramped living rooms.
The informal recycling system in Manshiyet Nasser handles over a third of Cairo's waste according to government figures. The neighborhood’s well-oiled machine has been kicked into high gear by the war more than 1000 kilometers away. Egyptian workers load bails of plastic for recycling on trucks, while children chase footballs through narrow alleyways.
Recycled polyethylene, one of the world's most widely used plastics and a key ingredient in packaging, is at the heart of this boom. According to the pricing agency Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS), the Middle East is a major global supplier of polyethylene, with around 85% of its exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Egypt imports approximately 40% of its raw plastic materials from Gulf countries, Europe, China, and South Korea.
The economic impact on local recyclers has been significant. Romany specialises in recycled polyethylene, which is now in high demand due to the supply shortfalls caused by the war. The increased demand means that factories are willing to pay cash upfront for materials, a change from previous practices where payment was often delayed.
Despite the economic benefits, the living conditions remain challenging. The smell of rubbish hangs heavy in the air as pickup trucks and handcarts crawl through narrow alleyways, unloading the day's collections while children weave between them chasing footballs. Health risks are also present, with families exposed to foul odours, plastic fumes, and other hazards.
The informal recycling system in Manshiyet Nasser has been a lifeline for many residents for generations. The current surge in demand highlights how global conflicts can have unexpected local impacts, benefiting communities that have long thrived on waste management.
'Before the war, we were the ones calling factories, trying to sell our material. But after the war broke out, the factories started calling us.'
Peter Romany, Recycling specialist
