INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF 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 Logo WIEGO

Region

Country Argentina

January 29, 2019

Translated by Abrapalabra Co-op.


From October 17 to 22, 2018, the global exchange of waste pickers’ organizations “Recycling in our hands” was held in the Popular Economy Workers’ Confederation (CTEP) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Waste pickers coming from coastal cities of ten different countries like Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, India, USA, France, Italy, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, and delegates from many cities of Argentina participated in the meeting. During the days of the meeting, the objective was to discuss about and make an exchange of the difficulties and challenges undergone by the waste picking sector (known as “cartonero” in Argentina) in a context in which the economy excludes the working poor, without rights or recognition. Also, considering models of organization which have made advancements in wage rights, some strategies were delineated to keep on fighting for the right to work and work with rights. The exchange’s agenda consisted of visits to many organization experiences in dumpsites, in central and peripheral cities, to their recyclable materials processing centers, and to innovative experiences such as the environmental promotion made by women waste pickers. Also, the delegations attended different conferences and debate sessions concluding in this final document (download PDF). The final document is available in the following languages:
French, English and Portugues. You can see more information and videos about the global exchange.