The Logistics of Settling In 181they fall, whether on streets, pavements or roofs. Once
left, construction litter tends to stay. Clearing debris away
is clearly a low priority. As a result, much of Egypt looks
perpetually under construction or as a friend pointed out,
‘like a war zone’.
Rubbish collection is a totally different issue. Household
rubbish is collected regularly. Cairo’s ‘unofficial’ refuse
collectors, the Zabbaleen, collect two-thirds of the garbage.
‘Official’ collectors collect the remaining refuse. The
largest Zabbaleen settlement is Manshiet Nasser. Their
entrepreneurial expertise has resulted in an intricate social
structure surrounding refuse recycling. Here, different
families specialise in different materials. Families sort
through rubbish, dividing it into plastics, metals, paper, rags,
bones and organic matter.
Trucks are rapidly replacing the customary donkey-pulled
carts for transporting rubbish through the city. Most flats and
villas have back entrances where rubbish is collected.
Refuse and litter present unique problems for most cities
throughout the country. People drop refuse and litter just
about everywhere in Egypt. In fact, finding a waste bin
is almost impossible in most cities. Waste collects on the
pavements and on the edges of streets—anywhere it can
find a place to settle. No amount of picking up by people
employed for that purpose controls the rubbish appearing
on the streets daily.
A major exception to the litter problem is the Metro
system and some newer areas of the city. Waste bins are
strategically placed at Metro stations. Serious fines and a
side visit to the local police station can result from failure to
use these bins.
Public Toilets
Go before you leave home! Always take toilet or tissue paper
with you—just in case (if you use them). You might also want
to carry a plastic, disposable bag for discarding toilet paper
in case you have to use a local toilet that doesn’t have a place
to dispose of it. If you plan to be out all day around town and
need facilities, the best bet is to find a friendly restaurant,