Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt | Disposal problem lingers

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A demonstration on Sunday protesting against the mountains of uncollected garbage littering Cairo and Giza streets was another manifestation of an ongoing controversy affecting sanitation in both affluent and poorer neighbourhoods. The protest, organised by the Popular Committee for the Protection of the Consumer (PCPC) in Giza and Kifaya, was triggered by the high piles of garbage cluttering the streets because foreign garbage collecting companies have all but stopped disposing of waste.

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The problem is so severe, an official at the Ministry of Health told Al-Ahram Weekly, that they received pleas from people asking them to spray dumpsters and garbage piles with antiseptic because they were concerned for their health. The ministry reported that it was ready to do the job, but no means of transportation for the equipment; another ministry had so far refused to provide any.

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The European companies were contracted by the previous government headed by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid to replace the traditional local garbage collector or zabal. The zabal collected garbage at the doorstep of every household for a small fee, and transported garbage on a donkey-pulled cart to Cairo's large rubbish heaps on Moqattam Hills. The garbage would then be sorted manually either for recycling, reuse or resale.

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Ebeid decided to scrap this tradition and replace it with a group of foreign companies from Spain, Italy and the UK who would charge every household according to electricity consumption. These companies transport the garbage in large sealed trucks, but instead of sorting the waste and recycling it they either burn it and release harmful emissions into the already polluted Cairo skies, or dispose of it in landfills.

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According to the PCPC head, the entire garbage collecting scheme reeks of corruption since he believes there is "absolutely no need" to bring in foreign companies to collect garbage in Egypt. El-Ashqar added that contracts are biased towards the foreign companies which incur no penalties if they don't collect the garbage, as is the case currently. Another point of contention, is the long-term contracts for companies which are unfamiliar and have no previous experience in Egypt. "It doesn't make any sense," he asserted. "These foreign companies are unconstitutional and are only a front for officials to siphon money from the people."

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Giza Governorate has refuted all accusations, saying that the foreign garbage collectors will improve sanitation and hygiene on the streets, and bring waste disposal in Egypt on a par with similar systems around the world. It stated that the zabal has become an outdated and ineffective profession. While these companies may be foreign-owned, they mainly employ Egyptians with very few foreign staff.

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