Waste pickers threaten strike over bottle project

Shahata El-Moqaddas, the head of the Workers Syndicate for Cleaning and Environment Improvement, warned of the impact of the project to collect plastic and metal containers in exchange for points on the livelihood of sanitation workers. He explained that these materials are a primary source of income for workers involved in collecting and transporting waste, as they gather around 18,000 tons of refuse daily, including bottles, cans, and cartons, which are considered treasures among trash. He emphasized that the project requires comprehensive waste treatment because it doesn't only involve plastic and metal containers but also contaminated materials like food residues, gloves, and syringes, putting workers at risk of losing part of their income and threatening the continuation of waste collection. He pointed out that removing solid materials from waste would fragment their sources of livelihood and stressed the need for a mechanism that preserves workers' rights and protects their income. Meanwhile, Daqi District has begun operating the first two smart recycling machines, which allow for the disposal of containers in exchange for rewards and monetary points directly added to users' phones.

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