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
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Africa

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...


Waste pickers walking towards home at the end of a workday at Marionhill landfill. Photo: Deia de Brito.

WIEGO and Waste Pickers Speak at Joburg Waste Summit

On May 15 and 16, 2013 over 400 people attended the Joburg Waste Summit, hosted by the Johannesburg Council and its waste management company Pikitup. The Council and Pikitup urgently need to find ways to minimize waste going to landfill, and the Summit was called to explore how to do this. WIEGO and SAWPA argued that landfill reclaimers need to be included in all discussions and new recycling initiatives.

South African Waste Pickers Association National Meeting

From June 19th to the 21st, the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) held its national meeting in Johannesburg. 80 waste pickers who are serving as landfill coordinators attended, from all over the country. There were seven waste picker leaders from different provinces. Facilitators from three organizations were there to support the meeting. “There has been progress since the mid-2000s,” said Musa Chamane, a waste campaign manager with GroundWork, an organization that works closely with SAWPA. “Conditions have been slowly changing for the better.”


South African government delegates visiting waste pickers' cooperative CooperLimpa in Diadema to learn about participatory and inclusive waste management models. Photo credit: WIEGO.

Learning from the catadores: the South African government visits the waste pickers of Brazil

In April, officials from the South African Department of the Environment were in Brazil and Colombia to learn about inclusive solid waste management. They visited waste pickers’ movements and cooperatives and spoke with NGOs and city officials. “We are particularly encouraged by the participatory aspects. This is something that resonates with South Africans,” Cobbinah said.

Leaders of RECRED, the nascent waste picker’s network in the DRC, held a meeting on March 1st in honor of Global Waste Pickers' Day. Photo credits: RECRED.

March 1st – Global Waste Pickers’ Day celebrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A meeting for exchanging and sharing experiences was held on March 1st, 2013, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in honor of Global Waste Pickers’ Day. Leaders of RECRED, the nascent waste picker’s network in the DRC, got together to discuss three main issues: network activities, health care, and how to strengthen the sector. It was noted that since the first steps towards a national network of waste pickers were taken in October of 2012, a few associations have been cooperating and have made contact with local authorities. The participants discussed the need for appropriate protective equipment at work as well as health insurance. There is a need to create cooperatives for access to microcredit, as well as workspace for selling and storing materials collectively. This meeting allowed members of RECRED to consolidate in order to invite other waste pickers who work individually to join the network.


Kenyan Pickers Doing it For Themselves

Waste pickers in Kenya are fighting to be heard. It has been a slow process of building solid organisation but it is showing results.

In the towns of Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi many people view pickers as trouble makers, especially as gangs sometimes operate from dumps. In fact the waste pickers are earning an honest living by collecting, sorting and selling metals such as aluminium, copper and iron as well as plastic bottles and containers, cloth, bones and organic waste.


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