Watch Urban Diggers

Urban Diggers is a 2019 documentary film directed by Johanna Domke and Marouan Omara. The film takes a raw look at the lives of Egyptian carton collectors who sift through heaps of garbage to collect and sell recyclable materials. The film follows a group of "Zabbaleen" who live in Cairo's outskirts in the city of Manshiyat Naser, known as Garbage City. The term "Zabbaleen" is Arabic for "garbage people," and it refers to the people who work in the informal sector of waste management in Egypt. The Zabbaleen do not receive any official recognition or compensation from the government, and they are often discriminated against due to the nature of their work.

Urban Diggers documents the daily life of four young Zabbaleen men and their families as they navigate the challenges of their job and the socioeconomic obstacles that come with living on the margins of society. The film explores how the Zabbaleen, despite being ostracized, continue to sustain their communities and make a living by finding valuable materials in the garbage.

The film touches on the broader political and economic structures in Egypt that keep the Zabbaleen marginalized. It reveals how the privatization of waste management in the country has resulted in hostility towards the Zabbaleen, who are often viewed as a nuisance by local governments.

One of the main characters in the film is Nader, a young man who started collecting garbage at a young age to help support his family. Nader embodies the resilience and determination of the Zabbaleen, as he dreams of creating a better future for himself and his community. Despite his difficult circumstances, Nader remains optimistic and determined to succeed.

Another character in the film is Hamdy, a charismatic and entrepreneurial young man who has found creative ways to make a living from garbage collection. Hamdy uses his skills to create art and other products from recycled materials, and he dreams of turning his passion into a career.

Urban Diggers also examines the impact of the informal waste management sector on the environment. The film shows how the Zabbaleen have developed efficient waste sorting and recycling practices that are more sustainable than the government's methods. The Zabbaleen's recycling model has been recognized as one of the most effective systems in the world, and the film sheds light on how these practices can be integrated into official waste management systems.

Overall, Urban Diggers is an eye-opening documentary that provides a personal look at the lives of the Zabbaleen and their livelihoods. It is a poignant reminder of the resilience and creativity that can emerge from difficult circumstances and the importance of recognizing the value of informal workers.

Urban Diggers is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 44 minutes.