Archive · 18 Jul 2026
Egypt's Garbage City Recyclers Benefit from Iran War
In a part of Cairo called Garbage City, people who collect and recycle trash are making more money.
This is because a war between the United States and Iran has made it hard to get plastic from other countries.
Factories in Egypt need plastic to make things, so they are buying more recycled plastic from the people in Garbage City.
This has made the recyclers very busy and increased the prices of recycled plastic.
The recyclers are happy because they are making more money, but they know this might not last forever.
The factories are happy because they can get the plastic they need, but they have to pay more for it.
Everyone is waiting to see what happens next with the war and the plastic supplies.
Recyclers in Cairo's Garbage City are experiencing increased demand and higher prices for their recycled plastic materials due to the Iran war.
Factories in Egypt are eager to secure recycled plastic materials to plug supply shortfalls caused by the war.
The settlement of Manshiyet Nasser handles more than a third of Cairo's waste and has a sophisticated informal recycling system.
Prices for some recycled plastics have increased by up to 60%, and demand has tripled for some recyclers.
The boom in the recycling business could fade once supply routes stabilize, but for now, orders are picking back up.
- Who
- Recyclers and manufacturers in Egypt, particularly in Manshiyet Nasser
- What
- Increased demand and higher prices for recycled plastic materials due to the Iran war
- When
- Since the outbreak of the Iran war and the choking of the Strait of Hormuz
- Where
- Manshiyet Nasser, Cairo, Egypt
- Why
- Due to supply shortfalls caused by the Iran war and the choking of the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane for raw materials
Recyclers
Factories
Demand for Recycled Plastic
Recyclers
Recyclers are experiencing increased demand and higher prices for their recycled plastic materials due to the war.
Factories
Factories are eager to secure recycled plastic materials to plug supply shortfalls caused by the war.
- Location
- Manshiyet Nasser, Cairo, Egypt
- Population
- 115,000+ residents
- Waste Handled
- More than a third of Cairo's waste
- Key Plastic Types
- Polyethylene, PET
- Price Increase
- Up to 60% for some recycled plastics
- Demand Increase
- Up to 40% for recycled products
- Major Suppliers
- Gulf countries, Europe, China, South Korea