WATCH: How the Iran War Triggered Demand in Cairo’s Garbage City
We visit Cairo's Garbage City, where workers recycle more than 80% of the garbage they collect — more than most cities in the world — to learn about the effect of the Iran war on polyethylene demand.
A global supply shock just found an unlikely solution in the middle of Cairo’s trash. As disruptions to plastic exports through the Strait of Hormuz drive up demand for recycled polyethylene, Garbage City has found itself at the center of an international supply chain.
In Manshiyet Nasser, one of the world’s largest informal recycling communities is seeing prices surge by as much as 200%, turning everyday waste into a globally sought-after commodity. The boom may be temporary, but it shows how Egypt’s local recyclers can become critical players in the global economy.
