Aliou Faye

Aliou Faye lives in Diourbel, Senegal. He works with the Association Book Diom des Recuperateurs et Recycleurs in Mbeubeuss, a landfill serving the greater Dakar region. The association was founded in 1994. Aliou, who is 34 years old, has been recycling since he was 16.

“What motivates me to be a recyler is a familiar situation,” he said. “In order not to steal, to keep my dignity, and to avoid taking a second job.”

Aliou works primarily as a recycler but is also involved in other matters with his association, such as organizing and planning meetings.
“We want people to know that recycling is a business, recyclers need to be recognized and treated as citizens of society,” Aliou said. “Recyclers also need to organize, and go through training and capacity-building.”