INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WASTE PICKERS

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a networking process supported by WIEGO, among thousands of waste picker organizations with groups in more than 28 countries covering mainly Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Supported by Logo WIEGO
Life and Voices of Waste pickers

Life & Voices

Get to know waste picker leaders who have actively participated in the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers process.

Where are we?

Provisional list of hundreds of waste pickers’ groups around the globe.


News from Waste Pickers around the world


Organizing

International Waste Pickers Day 2023

Today we join the world in commemorating International Waste Pickers Day by marching with waste pickers from 19 countries in Dandora  (Nairobi) Kenya. We fight, we commemorate and...
South African, Kenyan and Uruguayan government delegates along with the delegation of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers. Picture Courtesy: John O. Chweya.

Kenya And South Africa Announce Just Transition Initiative For Waste-pickers & Other Workers In The Plastic Value Chain

Just Transition Initiative builds on the Group of Friends of Waste-pickers launched a day before the INC began. “Kenya would like to take this opportune moment to inform the plen...

‘Group of Friends of Waste Pickers’ is inaugurated during the INC-1 in Uruguay.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 29 NOVEMBER, 2022   Punta del Este, Uruguay – The Group of Friends of Waste Pickers was inaugurated today, during the first international negotiation...

Why are waste pickers’ organizations uniting worldwide?

Organizations of waste pickers from around the world have been fighting for decades for the recognition of their work, their occupation, and their rights. This Saturday, October 29...

Constitution launching congress this Saturday Oct. 29th – Register!

We have been fighting for many years for the recognition of our work, our profession and our rights. Now, with the strength of hundreds of waste pickers’ organizations in 26 ...


Threats

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers at COP27 – Egypt

  With the support of GAIA and WIEGO, the International Alliance of Waste Pickers will be participating in the COP27 in Egypt. The delegation will be in Sharm El Sheikh from the 1...

Waste picker shelters burned in Bantar Gebang Landfill (Indonesia)

On March 15, at 2pm Indonesia time, shelters of members of Ikatan Pemulung Indonesia (Indonesia Waste-pickers Union – IPI) were burned near Bantar Gebang Landfill (in Bekasi,...

Fire outbreak in waste picker homes in Ghana

On March 16, 15 waste pickers in Ghana at Kpone landfill lost their properties due to a fire outbreak at their quarters that started during the night. Their homes, where they lived...

REDLACRE builds a manifesto to guide action towards waste picker threats

The document serves as a guide for action and carries strategic messages on several issues. The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Waste Pickers, REDLACRE, developed virtually...

Waste pickers from Bokk Diom work on their integration into waste management

Waste pickers of Mbeubeuss (Dakar’s public landfill) initiated research into alternative livelihoods motivated by the threats to their work at the landfills. In November 2021...


Publications

MNCR leader Alex Cardoso launches his book: Do Lixo a Bixo

The waste picker Alex Cardoso promoted the launching of his book, together with other waste pickers connected to the National Movement of Waste Pickers (MNCR) in Brazil. “Do lixo...

Podcast on Reclaimers in South Africa

In this podcast published by New Frame they interview Kopano Mokoena, Thando Nkalaand Eva Mokoena, reclaimers of Johannesburg, South Africa. They also interview Federico Parra (WIE...

Video on global threats to waste pickers’ work

This video detects all the threats to the work of latent waste pickers around the world today. The threats are a constant in their work, but the video assumes that because the threats are global, the resistance and struggle against them must be equally global and in solidarity within the working class

International Live streaming: Waste Pickers Organization in the World

The National movement of Brazilian Waste Pickers (MNCR), together with the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers, will bring together waste pickers from around the world to discuss stra...

Waste Workers’ Safety during the COVID-19 pandemic (webinar)

The video of the webinar is available in YouTube. On Thursday April 30th, 2020, at 15:00h CEST the webinar Waste Workers’ safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized by UN...