Zero waste approach is a must in South Africa
Un-recycled waste is a common sight and a sign of an inefficient governance and production system, which adds to the global burden of climate change. A zero waste approach [1] to t...
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
Category: Threats
Promote climate jobs and deny proposed waste-to-energy incinerator in Kempton Park, South Africa
Dear friends Say what?! Yes, you read it correctly. Hundreds of waste reclaimers and small recyclers in South Africa stand to lose their climate-friendly jobs and be forced to retu...
Why we are against extending the deadline of the national waste policy
Across Brazil, open dumps cause death and disease for waste pickers. To extend for another eight years the deadline to close open dumps will mean the continuation of this degrading situation, another eight years in which waste pickers will not have adequate workplaces and equipment.
Another waste picker dies and municipalities insist on keeping dumpsites open
On September 2nd, a waste picker died in a work-related accident at the Estrutural dumpsite in Brasília. Chico Moura, 57, who worked at the Estrutural dump for 25 years, was buried and then crushed by the machines that cover the waste at the dumpsite.
The Federation of Waste Pickers of Argentina mobilizes to defend inclusive recycling
On August 27, the waste pickers marched to the Ministry of the Environment and Public Space, protesting the city’s failure to implement the recycling service agreement. We are profoundly worried that if this continues, the Ministry of the Environment and Public Space will put at risk the health of the city, will increase the waste being buried at landfills…
Four pilot projects in the works: an update from the South African Waste Pickers’ Association
SAWPA has been in negotiations with government at all levels about their recognition, particularly receiving recognition in some municipal areas that has since resulted in new projects on the ground. There are various projects in which SAWPA members are involved.
Msunduzi municipality puts job creation project on back-burner
Instead of supporting the local social economy, Msunduzi Municipality has signed an agreement with Wildlands Conservation Trust to take all recyclable waste from Pietermaritzburg.
Brazilian Movement stands with Uruguayans against waste-to-energy plans
We waste pickers, organized nationally as part of the National Movement of Brazilian Waste Pickers (MNCR), and continentally, as part of the Latin American and Caribbean Network of...
Ambika, a proud waste manager
Recently there was an article/video asking for a ban on waste picking and attacking the organization that is working to organize this section of eco warriors (they retrieve valuables like nobody can), they say waste picking should NOT be formalized. Listen to this lady whose livelihood depends on the waste the city throws.
Waste pickers respond to Uruguay’s waste-to-energy plans
As a response to information recently published about the current government-led public bidding process that aims to promote waste-to-energy in Uruguay, a pro-waste picker initiative called the Coordinadora Pro Clasificadores (CPC) declares in four points that the generation of energy from waste is not a solution.
Clean stations, green stations: Chintan and Safai Sena celebrate Earth Day
Chintan in partnership with the Indian Railways is celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, 2014 at the New Delhi Railway Station.
Petition: No to incineration, yes to social inclusion in Belo Horizonte!
On February 12, activists and citizens were present at the City Hall of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to alert representatives of the risks of approving two pieces of legislation that would permit incineration technology in the city.
Estrutural: the largest dumpsite in Latin America is a nightmare for Brazilian society
The Estrutural dumpsite in Brazil’s national capital region receives 70,000 tons of waste per month. Of those, three percent are recycled, thanks to an army of 2,500 waste picker...
Waste picker Mônica da Silva receives Living Legacy Prize for environmental activism
A Women’s International Center will honor the waste picker Maria Monica da Silva with the Living Legacy Prize on February 22, for her work promoting environmental justice and support of inclusive recycling in São Paulo, Brazil; Monica was nominated for the prize by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and by Other Worlds Are Possible.
Waste pickers to stop subsidising the Pune Municipal Corporation!
In 2007 waste pickers in Pune stepped out of garbage containers to establish SWaCH, a workers cooperative to provide front end waste management services to their city. SWaCH enabled their transition from waste pickers to service providers.
Petition! Support informal recyclers and zero waste in Bogota
We invite concerned groups and individuals across the globe to support a petition by Bogota’s informal recyclers (waste pickers) urging Colombia’s Inspector-General, Alejandro Ordóñez, to reverse the decision to oust the democratically-elected Mayor of Bogotá, Gustavo Petro. The ruling against Mayor Petro was based on actions he took against private waste management companies in the process of implementing an inclusive Zero Waste Program in Bogota.
The struggle for waste pickers’ rights in Pune continues
Pressure against the private contractors has been mounting since the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal government (PCMC) withheld payment from the company for violating labor laws. The new contracts proposed by the city government are supposed to ensure that workers will be paid minimum wages.
A week of solidarity with the waste pickers of the Uruguaiana dump (Brazil)
At the end of November, the National Movement of Brazilian Waste Pickers organized a week of solidarity with the workers of the Uruguaiana dumpsite, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The waste pickers there have been working in the city for more than 50 years.
South African waste pickers call on their government to stop incineration projects
SAWPA came together in November to object to the proposal by EnviroServ to construct a waste incineration facility at the Chloorkop waste site, calling on the government to deny EnviroServ permission to build a waste incinerator facility at Chloorkop.
2013 Global Day of Action against incineration
November 8th was the Global Day of Action Against Incineration. More than 25 actions in 14 countries across six continents were held to protest incineration and promote zero waste and socially inclusive alternatives.