Palestine – Gaza turns to plastic recycling for making mats

Location: Gaza- Palestine

Language: Arabic

Voice: Natural

Duration: 00:05:03

Source: A24       

Restrictions: A24 Clients

Dateline: 01-03-2022

Storyline

Due to the closure of the crossings and the siege imposed on the Strip, the owner of the mat factory in Gaza resorted to recycling plastic from waste to make plastic mats.

According to Hamed Hejazi, director of the mat factory, which has been in operation for 35 years, mats are used by the poor because of their low price.

Hejazi added that the industry relies on imported plastic raw materials from abroad, but due to the conditions of closed borders, they turned to recycle plastic from waste.

Workers in the mat industry face many challenges, including the lack of machine spare parts and the inability to get raw materials due to the siege imposed on Gaza.

Shotlist

• (SOUNDBITE) Hamed Hejazi – Director of a mat factory:

“The poor use the mats because of their low price. Due to the closure of the crossings and the siege imposed on Gaza, we resorted to recycling plastic waste. We sort the plastic and the machine grinds and recycles it, and then make the mats. This factory was established in 1985, but since the start of the siege, 15 years ago, we have been using refined plastics. We have about 25 workers”

• (SOUNDBITE) Hamed Hejazi – Director of a mat factory:

“These mats are a heritage from the era of our ancestors, and it is present in every home. We used to export it to foreign markets, the West Bank, and even the Golan. Now, with the siege, we are forced to sell it in the local market with the reduction of factory production. We face challenges, most notably the lack of machines spare parts and the failure to bring raw materials into the Strip.”

• (SOUNDBITE) Sharif Al-Mubayd- Worker:

“Mats are old tradition; people buy them instead of carpets. I have been working in this profession for more than 10 years, and it is my only source of income. We recycle the plastic and then dye it according to the customer’s request.”

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