Garbage in Cairo: a larger threat than the swine flu?

Cairo Garbage wrap 2009
Taher
11-11-09

(natsound of busy street)

Lead in: each day 13000 tons of garbage is disposed by residents of Cairo, that is now left on the street. After the swine flu outbreak a great upheaval occured resulting in the needless slaughter of pigs in Egypt.

The government didn't take into account that the pigs are an integral part of the garbage disposal process in Cairo. The garbage has been traditionally managed by Copts in Egypt and was running quite efficiently. Families in Manshiet Nasser worked collectively by sorting garbage. Pigs ate the organic waste, while other types of waste was recycled or buried in a landfill.

Egypt's recycling system was considered one of the very functional systems in Egypt, but the government was not concerned. Youssef Fatlats, a freelance Journalist, who went in depth in that topic, explained more.

(soundbyte by Youssef Faltas)

After the slaughter garbage collectors refused to pick up the waste, and have become very selective in what they pick up. Now, the city of Cairo suffers from a larger health issue that the swine flu, the piles of garbage. Though Egypt has contracts with three foreign companies and a stable society of garbage collectors, garbage is piling up on the streets.

Though no research was conducted on the health issues that may arise, Faltas said that people in Manshiet Nasser take regular vaccinations, which a great indication that piles of garbage spred bacteria and viruses.

Manal Badaway, Sociology professor at the AUC agrees.

(soundbyte by Manal Badawy)

How long will the garbage decorate our streets and become an all familiar sight? And how much disease will citizens be infected with before the government reacts?

Menna Taher, AUC radio station