INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF
WASTE PICKERS
WASTE PICKERS
The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a union of waste picker organizations representing more than 460,000 workers across 34 countries
Supported by
1st Elective Congress of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers
May 1-5, 2024. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
UN Plastic Treaty
Active participation in the UN global treaty that tackles plastic pollution.
Where are we?
Provisional list of hundreds of waste pickers’ groups around the globe.
Recent newsletter
Check out the latest GlobalRec newsletter. You can also subscribe to receive it by email.
News from Waste Pickers around the world
Organizing
Affiliates of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers Mark Waste Pickers Day Around the World
IAWP Marks Waste Pickers Day Around the World Argentina In Argentina, the national federation FACCYR (Federacion Argentina de Cartoneros, Carreros y Recicladores) commemorated the ...
International Waste Pickers Day- 1st March 2025 Message
We, the leadership of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers—Severino Lima Junior (President), Sushila Sable (Vice President), and Maditlhare Koena (Treasurer)—extend warm...
Call for Applications: Hiring of Communications Manager
The International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) seeks a dynamic, motivated, dedicated individual to fill the Communications Manager position. The successful candidate will play ...
New General Secretary Appointed by International Alliance of Waste Pickers
The Executive Council of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kabir Arora (Qabeer Jalandhari) as its General Secretary....
Congress Day 5: Advocacy Day
We, waste pickers, are very diverse, but we also share so many similarities. Among them, unfortunately, there are the threats we face in our work, but also the ways that our organi...
Threats
Indonesian Waste Pickers call for the International Solidarity
“Today, waste pickers across Indonesia are united in mourning and calling for global solidarity as they face a dire challenge. The Indonesian government has made the shocking dec...
Statement of Denouncement and Repudiation of the Police Repression Exercised by the Argentine Government against FACCyR
From the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) we want to express our strongest repudiation and publicly denounce the brutal police repression exercised against our member...
Dry waste centre and the basis of our livelihood have been destroyed
The Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) in ward 177, JP Nagar (India), was set on fire on 20th May 2023. The centre is run by Kumuda, a former waste picker who put her own money int...
Recyclers demand respect and continuity of work in Cerro Patacón
Members of the National Movement of Recyclers of Panama (MNRP) marched on Thursday, March 23, to the vicinity of the Presidency of the Republic, located in San Felipe. The recycler...
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...
Publications
Waste pickers feature in documentary about forming IAWP
International Alliance of Waste Pickers’s Acting General Secretary, Lucia Fernández has featured in an Insider Business documentary exploring the essential role waste pickers pl...
Waste Pickers, the Missing Piece in India’s EPR Puzzle
The Alliance of Indian Waste Pickers (AIW) has released new research into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the impacts it has on Indian waste pickers. Haris Najib, the...
RedLacre at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
WIEGO and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Waste Pickers (RedLacre) will denounce in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the situation of the rights o...
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...