VERYNILE

A Small Island Makes a Big Splash on the Nile

While the Nile captivates with its ancient Egyptian legacy and age-old scenes playing out along its banks, there’s also a less romantic side to the river’s modern-day story. The sad truth is, the Nile is a significant contributor to waterborne plastic waste, depositing an estimated 6,772 metric tons into the Mediterranean Sea each year. Staggeringly, that accounts for roughly 25% of the waste that enters the Mediterranean annually.

In 2018, a group of friends in Cairo decided to get their hands dirty and do something about it, banding together to found VeryNile. The group headquartered VeryNile on the diminutive Nile island of Qursaya and began cleaning up the river’s plastic waste — initially one piece at a time.

In 2020, VeryNile expanded its reach by employing local fishermen to collect the river’s plastic. Currently, around 200 fishermen across Cairo, Assiut and Sohag collect approximately one ton every day. As of this writing, that culminates in a running total of some 450 tons of plastic removed from the Nile.

Back on Qursaya Island, VeryNile employs roughly 60 locals (mostly female artisans) to sort the plastic and craft it into soft goods such as tote bags, fanny packs, pencil cases, laptop sleeves and hats. The artisans then sell their wares onsite at the island’s VeryNile Gift Shop.

In the heart of bustling Cairo, Qursaya stands out as a beacon of resilience and hope. What started as an effort to clean the river has expanded to include a local school, health clinic and restaurant — all aimed at improving the day-to-day lives of Qursaya’s residents.