***archive: zabaleen of garbage city: Zabaleen_002

A Zabaleen garbage collection truck returns to the Cairo suburb of Moqqatam at the end of a shift collecting trash from the cities streets and homes. Zabaleen, which literally means “garbage collectors” have assumed a semi-official role as Cairo’s binmen. The Zabaleen men usually do two shifts. They leave at about four or five in the morning, and again at about nine. The poorer Zabaleen use donkey carts, but many earn enough to rent trucks. They then take the garbage back to their homes for the women to pick through for items to recycle.

A Zabaleen garbage collection truck returns to the Cairo suburb of Moqqatam at the end of a shift collecting trash from the cities streets and homes.

Zabaleen, which literally means “garbage collectors” have assumed a semi-official role as Cairo’s binmen. The Zabaleen men usually do two shifts. They leave at about four or five in the morning, and again at about nine. The poorer Zabaleen use donkey carts, but many earn enough to rent trucks. They then take the garbage back to their homes for the women to pick through for items to recycle.