OhMayGod This Egyptian Quartier is buried in the trash, but that the most shocking part

This Egyptian Quartier is buried in the trash, but that the most shocking part -

If you ever find yourself visiting Cairo, Egypt, then you might be better avoid Zebela Medina area. It is not to be avoided both for the crime or poverty, but for the smell.

During the last 100 years, Zebela Medina became unofficial garbage dump of the city. However, this did not prevent the people there creating one of the most profitable recycling companies on the continent

This is a common scene through Zebela Medina :. Trucks loaded with huge garbage bags filled almost to capacity.

Dilidou

The trucks come and leave the garbage in the neighborhood. It has become a way of life for the residents there.

Dilidou

Although may seem crazy that people live where garbage is dumped, Zebela Medina City residents make it work.

Dilidou

They are known as "Zabbaleen," or "Trash People".

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Dilidou

Dilidou

In fact, many of them are the ones bringing trash in Medina Zabbaleen.

Dilidou

Dilidou

Dilidou

life course as a "person of garbage" is not easy, but when there is little other options, they make it work.

Dilidou

Dilidou

outside Medina Zabbaleen looks like any other poor area of ​​Cairo. The only gift is the batteries of garbage bags at each corner, and probably the smell.

Dilidou

Dilidou

Medina Zabbaleen children learn to identify pieces of plastic, cotton, metal and iron in piles of garbage from a very young age. These are valuable materials that can sold for profit.

Dilidou

Dilidou

despite their difficulties, 60,000 residents of the region became a hardy community self style entrepreneurs.

Dilidou

Dilidou

for the past 40 years, the people of Zebela Medina worked refine and improve garbage collection and sorting techniques.

Dilidou

Dilidou

Every man, woman and child in the district work and contributes some thing sorted.

Dilidou

Dilidou

despite some technological developments, the majority of the recycling bin is still done by hand.

Dilidou

Because of this number "garbage people," are infected with hepatitis.

Dilidou

Dilidou

still though, that has not prevented people from Medina Zebela to be one of the most efficient collectors bins, and recyclers in Africa.

Dilidou

is estimated Zebela Medina collects about 4,500 tons of waste each day, and nearly 85 percent of the trash collected is recycled. It's a better number than most Western countries.

Dilidou

Dilidou

the recycling business Zebela Medina is actually slowly becoming the company most profitable of all Egypt.

Dilidou

Dilidou

of course, there are still health and logistics challenges for the people of Medina Zebela to overcome.

Dilidou

Dilidou

But Zebela Medina of people are hopeful for to come up. Slowly but surely, they formalize their garbage collection company, and they are even winning the Cairo city contracts, and some of its most prestigious companies.

Dilidou

(source: Dilidou, UPENN)

what the people of Medina are Zabbaleen is the definition to make the best of a bad situation, and what is really admirable. Moreover the work they do is to help save the planet, which is always a plus.

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