In 1998, the municipal council for the village of Niazi in Menoufiya licensed a factory to recycle agricultural waste into organic fertilizer. But villagers later discovered that the factory, which was built in the middle of a residential area, actually recycles waste collected from neighboring villages, tons of which it burns daily.
The municipal council ignored numerous complaints about the factory submitted by local residents. This prompted villagers to resort to the environmental authorities, who informed them that the Environment Ministry had approved the plant’s activities.
"Many of our children are now suffering from pneumonia as a result of the smoke produced by the factory," said Niazi resident Abdel Aziz Rehim. "And when we reported it to the police, they arrested two of the village children and charged them with attempting to burn the factory down."
"As a result of the pollution this factory is causing, our land now yields fewer crops and our cows give less milk," complained villager Fathi Abdel Samad.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
