Algiers Deploys 4,700 Workers to keep Eid clean amid waste surge

As families across Algiers prepare for Eid El-Adha celebrations, city sanitation teams are gearing up for a different challenge: managing a massive spike in waste.

Netcom, the capital’s waste collection agency, announced a special three-day operation that will mobilize 4,700 workers and 430 vehicles across the city to prevent garbage buildup and protect public health during the holiday.

Officials say household waste during Eid can more than double, rising from around 1,100 tons a day to nearly 2,500 tons, largely due to organic waste linked to the traditional sheep sacrifice.

The agency is also launching a separate effort to recover sheep skins, describing them as a valuable economic resource rather than simple waste. Special teams will collect and transport the hides for industrial processing, while residents are being urged to properly clean and salt them before disposal.

The operation reflects the city’s broader push to balance Eid traditions with sanitation and environmental concerns in one of Algeria’s busiest urban centers.