CAIRO - For a visiting foreigner, it would be quite bizarre to overhear a conversation between two Cairenes, in which one would be telling the other that he lives about two blocks from the garbage dump on the corner. But the fact is that people have become so accustomed to seeing piles of black plastic bags on the streets of Cairo that they use them as 'landmarks'. That was not the case when a local private garbage collecting system was applied in various districts of the capital. Zabaleen (garbage collectors) used to pick up household refuse from flats, where it was taken back to their 'garbage' village, where it was sorted and recycled, with organic matter fed to pigs. The system had its flaws but people thought it worked reasonably enough. About ten years ago, the Cairo Governorate decided to resort to foreign waste management companies believing that they would offer a better service in terms of cleanliness. The traditional zabaleen were taken out of the scene. But the results turned out to be disastrous, as the western system administered by these companies soon proved to be far from Egyptians' comprehension and habits. The companies placed bins on the street, where citizens were supposed to throw garbage bags and then huge trucks were to empty the bins once a day. But the bins were too small in size and fewer than required. The streets literally became buried in all sorts of garbage especially when the zabaleen started to sort out items they needed leaving the rest scattered all around. However, Cairo Governorate has of late promised citizens that they would live in a clean city. It has introduced new clauses to the contracts with two Italian companies dealing with the refuse of l4 districts that occupy about half of the capital's area. Implementation will, however, start with three of the most densely populated areas, Bab el-Sha'riya, el-Moski and el-Sharabia. According to the amendments, shifts will start as early as 7am and garbage collection will not be suspended at weekends or on national or religious holidays. Moreover, the workers' wages will be raised from LE 450 to l,100 to encourage the hiring of more workers. At the same time, environmental monitoring units are to be set up in each district to spot violations and impose fines. More importantly the companies will now be paid according to the total weight of garbage collected, which the governorate claims would encourage better performance. The plan, as envisaged, is to establish dumps in each district, from where garbage will be moved to larger stations, where sorting will take place. The zabaleen will be allowed to freely take their needs instead of messing up the street bins. Then, what is left over will be transferred to major landfills. According to the Chairman of the Cairo Cleanliness Authority, under the newly amended contracts five major landfills are to be made available outside the housing agglomerations in collaboration with the Environment Ministry to serve Greater Cairo. In a statement to the press, he said the contract of the Spanish company, which is in charge of the cleanliness of the eastern side of the capital, is to be modified, as well, within a few months. As for the southern part of Cairo, which has been assigned, for several years now to Al-Fustat company, a local affiliate of the Cleanliness Authority it will be subject in due time to upgraded services. Al-Fustat will be merged into a larger company specialised in the management of solid waste under the supervision of Arab Contractors, one of the largest construction companies in the country. For the first time Arab Contractors will initiate a project to make use of debris for the manufacture of quality building bricks. Under the project a large plot of land will be allocated for dumping debris, where truck drivers could dispose of large loads in return for a sum of money. The authority has allocated the free service hotline l52 to direct trucks to locations, where debris needs to be removed to the major landfill. The publicity accompanying the aforementioned amendments has given hope to both Cairo residents and visitors that they would be able at last to enjoy a clean city.
