What to know about the money-making machine in Ethiopia's recycling industry: Video

The term "korale" is a made-up word in Amharic, now widely used to describe the thousands of waste collectors who roam the streets of Addis Ababa.

These individuals, mostly men, wipe the city clean of discarded items ranging from used jerry cans and electrical equipment to shoes and shovels.

Their efforts are not just about survival; they are part of a larger ecosystem that turns waste into valuable resources.

Korales collect various types of waste, which they either restore, strip for spare parts or transform into new products.

For example, a kilogramme of collected metal can fetch about 40 birr ($0.30), while jerry cans can bring in between three and 25 birr ($0.025 and $0.21), depending on their size.

After hours of collecting, these recyclers converge on areas like Minalesh Tera in the Merkato market, one of Africa's largest open-air markets, to sell their finds to middlemen.

The korale system is a significant economic driver in Ethiopia. It provides livelihoods for thousands of people, many of whom live below the poverty line. For instance, a korale can earn between 500 and 1,000 birr ($4 to $8.50) a day.

"These are old items brought here by collectors. We purchase them and send them to factories for recycling. Some people also come here to buy old items because new ones are expensive," Tamirat Dejene, a middleman said.

Beyond the economic advantages, the korale system offers substantial environmental benefits. By collecting and recycling waste, korales helps reduce the amount of litter that would otherwise end up in landfills, contributing to pollution.

"It’s not just computers, we take old TVs, for example. They aren’t used anymore, and if left like that, they can cause environmental pollution. But if they are disassembled and sold for parts, it helps prevent pollution," Tesfaye Getahun, another middleman told AFP.