Livelihood Reports Al Amrikeya Area - Final Assessment

2.3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS 2.3.6.1 Solid Waste Technical Aspects Garbage was found to be one of the most press- ing issues in the area due to management and maintenance shortcomings. It was generally observed that shop owners and street vendors are all responsible for the cleanliness of their workspaces and the immediate area surround- ing their shops. Waste generated from the so- cial and commercial units (residents, adminis- trative service units and commercial units) is stored primarily within these units in plastic containers or bags. Once these primary waste storage facilities are full, shopkeepers or labour dispose this garbage in a nearby-designated dump or collection point. Diamond and Aly al-Deen Malls contain the highest number of bins inside the mall, whereas the remaining malls are surrounded by a num- ber of five to ten bins each with the exception of Magda Mall. There are five 1.1 m3 waste metal containers and one 20 m3 metal con- tainer equipped for a forklift (Figure 45). Oth- er waste collection points have no containers at all. Malls closer to the main arteries, name- ly Magda, Diamond and al-Amrikiyya, acquire better access to major garbage dumps through which solid waste collection trucks pass daily. Consequently, they are guaranteed a facilitat- ed disposal process, as they need a shorter dis- tance to reach the garbage bin. Aly al-Deen I Mall, located farther away from major dumps, faces more difficulty in removing garbage from inside and around it. Tertiary roads, especially narrow and unpaved ones, are completely in- accessible by garbage collection trucks, there- fore accumulating trash around them (Figure 46, Figure 47). Nearby shops and individuals also find these streets a target for easy dump- ing. Non-functioning entities, such as empty flower boxes, electricity boxes and closed off 79 | Understanding the development context basement ramps, also attract a lot of garbage as they have no clear function, do not belong to any specific individual and are surrounded by empty floor space. Administrative Aspects The mall management is in charge of solid waste management and security and they have hired external companies and contractors to cover these needs within the mall. Waste from administrative and residential units inside the malls is collected two times a day at about 9 a.m. and about 6 p.m., by the mall manage- ment staff, as part of the provided services against the monthly fee collected. The service also includes cleaning the area surrounding the malls but does not involve cleaning the pub- lic streets. Some residents, administrative and commercial units have already paid their share in a “maintenance deposit” upon buying their units. In most cases this amount is equivalent to 10% of the total value of the unit. Interest accrued from this deposit should cover all the maintenance costs (e.g. cleaning, waste col- lection, plumbing, cleaning water tanks, secu- rity and other similar costs). In order to cover the difference between the interest accrued from the deposit and the actual costs, occu- pants currently pay an additional L.E. 70 to LE 100 /month for residential units, and LE 150 / months for administrative units. The increase in the actual costs reflects increases in the costs of labour, and spare parts and other cleaning products and consumables. Occupants of res- idential and administrative units, who did not pay their share in the maintenance deposits, pay about LE 250/month and possibly thou- sands pe r month for the large commercial units. Other arrangements also exist for those who have extension to their business outside their units. Street vendors by contrast do not incur any maintenance or cleaning costs.

Livelihood Reports Al Amrikeya Area - Final Assessment | Page 133