Tunis Clean-up Association Launches Ambitious Project to Integrate "Barbachas" in Waste Sorting Operations
Tunis, May 10, 2026
The Tunis Clean-up Association is preparing an ambitious project aimed at integrating and involving "barbachas" (waste collectors) in waste sorting operations. According to Houssem Hamdi, President of the association, a waste sorting center is expected to be set up in the heart of the Medina of Tunis within the next few weeks.
Speaking on national radio, Houssem Hamdi highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative. The project aims to lift waste collectors out of precarious and informal situations, integrating them into a structured and organized system.
Increased Mobilization Ahead of Summer
In parallel to this social aspect, the association continues its cleaning interventions in forest areas and on most Tunisian beaches. As the summer season approaches, collection efforts are intensified to cope with the influx of waste. Houssem Hamdi revealed that the quantities of waste collected on a single beach can be measured in tonnes, reiterating his warnings about the devastating ecological and health impacts of cigarette butts, plastic, and glass waste.
A field study and a precise census of waste types have been conducted. The detailed results of this report will be officially unveiled at a press conference scheduled for May 25.
The Scourge of Food Waste
Tunis Clean-up President Houssem Hamdi also addressed the association's campaign against food waste, describing the situation as "very grave." He recalled that losses related to this waste exceed 480 million dinars per year.
For Houssem Hamdi, such a volume of food waste is unacceptable for a country that imports wheat and allocates massive budget resources to subsidies for basic products. He warned about the heavy environmental consequences of overconsumption behaviors.
Note:
- "Barbachas" are informal waste collectors in Tunisia.
- Tunis Clean-up Association is a non-profit organization working to promote waste management and environmental protection in Tunisia.
