July 03, 2024
Dear IAWP affiliates and allies,
We write to you after the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) Congress 2024, a very successful landmark for waste pickers and workers from around the world. From May 1-5, we met in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for our first elective Congress. We are proud to say that we are workers who are united for our rights!
This Congress was particularly significant because, for the first time, our truly global movement of waste pickers elected representatives democratically and internationally, a moment that went down in history of both the Alliance and workers rights movements globally. Remote voting was approved for those delegates who were not able to attend due to visa troubles. The Congress also approved various amendments to the Alliance’s constitution and resolutions.
If you are curious about the participants, details about affiliates, agenda, explanation of procedures, resolutions, videos from our panel discussions and the slides of the presentations we have you covered. We’ve published everything on the Congress website, that is available in English, Spanish and French: wastepickersinternational.org
At IAWP, we have come together from 50 organizations in 34 countries to defend our rights as workers and for the Congress, we came together from all the regions of our planet. The Congress is the Alliance’s highest decision-making body and this year it was composed of 88 delegates elected from our 50 affiliated waste picker organizations, with strategic partners who were present as observers and guests. According to our Constitution, we will have our Congress at least once every five years, so after successfully concluding this Congress, we will see you at the next one in 5 years.
In solidarity,
IAWP Team
A Five Day Journey
We had several engaging events that brought together delegates, guests and observers from around the world.
We started with a march for Workers Day, followed by debates and deliberations, voting, a public presentation of our elected representatives and much more.
The key events through our first ever Elective Congress were:
May 1: 1st Day: March and Opening Plenary
Kicking off the international Congress, we organized and participated in a massive march through the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with all the participants. Over a hundred waste pickers, delegates and observers, representing organizations from more than 30 countries joined waste pickers from Argentina in a march to commemorate International Workers’ Day.
Later on we came back to the Congress venue for the opening plenary, where we validated the procedures such as the Credentials, Resolutions, Ethics and Independent Electoral Committees. Then, there was the welcome of the host country and presentations by each person running for the elective positions at the Alliance. The event culminated with a cultural night.
Read more about the 1st day and watch our video summary.
May 2: Our first elections
On the second day of the Congress, we held our first elections, electing Severino Francisco de Lima Junior (UNICATADORES, Brazil) as President, Sushila Sable (PBVS, India) as Vice President, and Maditlhare Koena (SAWPA, South Africa) as Treasurer. Remote voting was introduced for delegates unable to attend in person due to visa issues.
Day 2 of Congress also featured a tribute to the history of waste pickers, highlighting our struggles and contributions. Silvio Ruiz (ANR, Colombia) and Marty Chen (WIEGO) honored past leaders, while Samuel Le Coeur and Regine Assoumou (Amelior, France) shared historical insights about waste pickers and personal stories.
Greetings were received from our various sister organizations, emphasizing solidarity and mutual support. Carmen Britez from IDWF, Alberto Santana from SNI, and others expressed their commitment to unity and recognition of informal workers. The event concluded with reflections on continued collaboration and future goals.
Read more about the Day 2.
May 3: Resolutions, constitution amendments and public presentation
On the third day of our Congress, constitutional amendments and resolutions were discussed with great enthusiasm.
Constitution amendments: Two constitutional amendments were approved. The first, that the term “reuse workers” should be included in the definition of waste pickers. The second, that the IAWP should fund the Executive Council office bearers, rather than relying on funding from the home organization.
Resolutions: Further, the first 8 resolutions were adopted to guide the Alliance’s work, focusing on social protection, women’s rights, child labor, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), just transition for decent work, and both economic and political independence, advocacy for governments to revise trade union laws and policies as well as to allow for registration of waste pickers’ organizations. We hope that these resolutions will guide us to advocate for improved public policies and conditions for us as waste pickers.The newly ratified Executive Council will be reviewing the remaining resolutions in future meetings. The outgoing acting GS then reported to Congress.
Public presentation: Later, at the iconic Confederación General de Trabajadores (CGT) headquarters in Buenos Aires, leaders from CGT, MTE-UTEP, and FACCyR welcomed IAWP’s newly elected leadership. Our office bearers emphasized solidarity, inclusion, and the fight for waste pickers’ rights. President Severino de Lima Junior presented a passionate speech, committing to tireless work for waste pickers of the world ahead, and he concluded with a call for justice, equality, and international solidarity, affirming that no one should be left behind.
You can read the final adapted and approved resolutions.
Read more about the day 3 and watch the video summary of days 2 and 3.
May 4: Field visits
The fourth day of our Congress involved field visits to waste picker cooperatives in Buenos Aires, highlighting their management models and collective efforts. We first started with a working tour of doorstep recyclables collection in the streets, and then followed with a visit to a cooperative center.
The Recicladores Unidos de Avellaneda cooperative, with 200 workers recycling over 100 tons monthly, was a key stop, where leaders stressed organized struggle and unity. The day concluded with an international farewell party featuring tango performances and Argentine BBQ.
Read more about Day 4 and watch our video summary.
May 5: Advocacy, thematic panels: Why an International Alliance of Waste Pickers?
On our fifth and last day, we had panel discussions in three sessions: from the basic defense of waste picker rights, highlighting police brutality, eviction, human rights perspectives, to organizing for decent work and a just transition, to our global advocacy work. All the videos and presentations are available on our website.
1. Defending our rights with dignity. For the first session, allies and waste picker affiliates explored the threats that we as waste pickers face, including violence, arson, restrictions to public space, criminalization, and lack of basic services. Some key issues raised were extreme violence that women face, including sexual violence; the exacerbating factor of climate change, which disproportionately affects poor communities; and that the threats to our lives and livelihoods are rooted in classism, racism, ableism, xenophobia, and colonial and patriarchal legacies.
2. Organizing for Just Transition. The second session focused on strategies for waste pickers to secure a just transition and improve our work. Key strategies include documenting rights violations, using data to highlight our value, and organizing at various levels to defend ourselves and influence policies and practices. Challenges to our organizing include privatization, competition from incineration and chemical recycling, the concentration of capital, exclusionary policies, toxic materials, and lack of social and labor protections.
3. Influencing the International. The third session focused on influencing the international agenda, highlighting our global advocacy efforts for waste pickers. Key efforts include engaging with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and the UN Plastics Treaty to secure provisions for a just transition and recognition. We noted that we have shaped legislation, influenced the plastics treaty negotiations, and built stronger alliances with trade unions, Indigenous Peoples, and frontline communities. Further, we have actively been involved in the International Labor Conference and in working around climate change policies, showcasing waste pickers’ contributions. Some of the challenges we have faced, as noted during the session, include corporate co-optation of waste picker voices and representation conflicts.
Conclusion and final remarks. In conclusion, Taylor Cass Talbott (IAWP Advocacy Coordinator) highlighted the IAWP’s main focus areas: Green Gas Emission Calculator, UN Plastics Treaty, ILO, EPR, and climate change. Carolina Palacio (IAWP Organizational Development Officer) summarized recent historic milestones for waste pickers. Severino de Lima Junior, as IAWP elected president, expressed gratitude and future commitments. Sushila Sable, as elected vice-president, sang a farewell song, and Sergio Sánchez, as president of FACCyR, the host organization, thanked attendees.
Meet our Executive Council & new Office Bearers
The International Alliance of Waste Pickers, with its Executive Council in place, followed by the new office bearers who were elected during Congress is excited to go forward in our journey as a global collective of waste pickers.
Historically, this has been the first time we elected our own leadership. We also had remote voting possible for those delegates who were not able to attend due to visa troubles. It was for the first time in a Congress in the history of the informal economy networks that remote vote was enabled.
Curious about our Executive Council? Check out the 22 members on our website.
During Congress, our new leadership was also elected. The office bearers are as follows:
- Severino Francisco de Lima Junior, President
- Sushila Sable, Vice-President
- Maditlhare Koena, Treasurer
Resolutions approved, new way forward
On the third day of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers Congress, amendments to the Alliance’s constitution were discussed. International Alliance of Waste Picker’s affiliates submitted resolutions for the delegates to discuss prior to, and vote for, during Congress. The approved resolutions refer to the following topics:
- Social protection
- Rights of women waste pickers
- Child labor
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Just Transition for the Right to Decent and Recognized Work
- Economic independence of the Alliance
- Political independence of the Alliance
- Advocacy for governments to revise trade union laws and policies to allow registration of waste pickers’ organizations
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