Living in slums and often marginalized by Egyptian society, Cairo’s Coptic ragpicker community nonetheless plays a vital role.
This group, rooted in a long tradition, collects, sorts, and recycles the city’s vast waste, contributing significantly to urban cleanliness and waste management.
Despite their ecological and economic importance, these workers frequently face stigma, poverty, and isolation.
Their skills and perseverance remain largely invisible to the public.
Yet without them, the city’s functioning would be severely disrupted. Coptic ragpickers embody a crucial link in an informal system that is often disregarded but indispensable for Cairo’s sustainability and daily life.
