‘The fish fled’: Nile fisherman earning more from collecting plastic than fish
Why it matters: Plastic‑recycling jobs are reshaping Nile economies and accelerating waste‑to‑energy transition.
- Mohammed Ahmed Sayed Mohammed trades his fishing net for a recycling company’s boat, earning higher wages by collecting plastic waste.
- Cairo’s municipal recycling firms report a surge in Nile plastic recovery, spurred by waste‑to‑energy projects and government incentives.
- Environmental NGOs warn that the booming recycling market underscores the severity of Nile pollution and the need for broader cleanup efforts.
In Cairo, former fisherman Mohammed Ahmed Sayed Mohammed now earns more pulling plastic from the Nile than catching fish, highlighting a rapid shift toward waste‑to‑recycling jobs as pollution drives new economic opportunities.
