Growing number of Tunisians turn to collecting plastic bottles as living costs soar

As Tunisia grapples with high unemployment and rising inflation, more people are turning to collecting plastic bottles—a job known locally as “barbechas”—to make ends meet. What was once an option for the most destitute is now attracting a broader group, including retirees, low-wage workers, and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, the AFP reports.

“It’s the most accessible work in Tunisia when there are no job offers,” said Hamza Jabbari, a barbecha in his 40s.

With unemployment around 16% and the same percentage of Tunisians living below the poverty line, informal jobs like this one have become a lifeline. Inflation has only made conditions worse in recent years.

“At first, it was people with no income, but for the past two years, workers, retirees and cleaning women have also turned to this work as a supplementary job,” explained Hamza Chaouch, head of the National Chamber of Recyclable Waste Collectors.

The job is tough and pays poorly. One kilogram of plastic bottles earns less than $0.25, making it a grueling way to survive.

While most barbechas are Tunisian, a growing number are sub-Saharan African migrants who came to Tunisia either to work or as a stopover en route to Europe. However, their presence has sparked tensions.

“There’s a strong rivalry in this work,” said Jabbari, glancing at a group of nearby migrants.

President Kais Saied has previously made inflammatory remarks about sub-Saharan migrants, contributing to local mistrust and division.

“We don’t accept sub-Saharans at our centre. Priority goes to Tunisians,” said Chaouch.

Others, however, take a more inclusive approach.

“The people who do this work are just trying to survive, whether they’re Tunisian, sub-Saharan or otherwise,” said Abdallah Omri, head of another recycling center.

As Tunisia’s economic woes deepen, the ranks of barbechas continue to grow—reflecting not only the country’s financial hardship, but also its fraught social dynamics.