The Association for the Protection of the Environment - Recycled Products

Established in 1984, the Association for the Protection of the Environment aims to improve the livelihood of Cairo's garbage collectors by engaging them in recycling of solid urban household waste. It builds upon, and upgrades the technical expertise of the formal and informal sector garbage collectors, while improving their professional, educational and health standards.

The Association set up a paper-recycling unit. This income-generating project helps girls and young women gain relative financial independence and assert themselves with their families. Over 60 girls and women are involved in this project. The whole recycling paper process takes place in a special workshop at the premises of the Association. The products are recycled from second-hand paper that the Association gets from different sources. The paper is then used for notebooks, cards and art paper. 

The Association later also set up a unit working with recycled fabrics transforming them to patchwork quilted products and rag carpets