Open dumps and the environment: an intimate connection
The continents of Africa, Latin America, and Asia, historically devastated by wars and occupations, are now devastated by thousands of open garbage dumps, huge producers of carbon ...
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
landfills
Massive fire in waste pickers’ community: appeal for help
On April 26, 2015, there was a massive fire at the waste picker’s community at Panchsheel Colony, Bhopura in Ghaziabad at around 12:30am. Over 150 shanties have been gutted altho...
South African waste pickers call on the government to build recycling facility
Approximately 500 waste recyclers or pickers will take to the streets of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, this week Thursday, December 11th, 2014, after three years of waiting for t...
Waste pickers in the Dominican Republic attacked in protest
On November 8th, during a protest organized by the waste pickers of the Rafey landfill in Santiago (Dominican Republic), Lavo Investment — the Italian company subcontracted t...
We say no to postponing the closure of open dumps in Brazil
Deputy André Moura is trying to extend another eight years the deadline for municipalities across Brazil to close their open dumps. Municipalities have already had four years to conform to the national law.
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.
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.
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...
A landfill in León, Nicaragua catches fire
On January 1, a fire broke out in the municipal landfill of León, Nicaragua. According to Red Lacre, bad management by the municipal government and Cielo Group, the company responsible for the landfill’s operations, was the cause of the fire.