Residents of Tunisian village protest massive toxic landfill
A mounting trash crisis in central Tunisia has put the small town of Aguereb, host to the region’s largest landfill, center stage.
AGUEREB, Tunisia — Aguereb, a small village in Tunisia’s central countryside, was once known for its fresh air, thriving ecosystem and beautiful natural surroundings, home to rare species of flora and wild gazelle.
Now, it is the site of the region’s largest landfill, collecting millions of tons of waste since 2008 that has made life all but unbearable for residents.
For those living close to the dump site, the putrid smell of rubbish, including hazardous industrial waste, can be overpowering, a constant reminder of the growing rot in their backyard.
“There is always a bad smell,” activist Slim Ben Abdallah told Al-Monitor from a cafe in the city center, just 3 kilometers (roughly 2 miles) from the rubbish dump.
