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
Supported by Logo WIEGO

Executive Council, Office bearers, Affiliates and Staff

Office Bearers

PositionRegionNameOrganizationCountry
PresidentLatin AmericaSeverino Lima JrUnicatadoresBrazil
Vice-PresidentAsiaSushila SablePBVSIndia
TreasurerAfricaMaditlhare KoenaSAWPASouth Africa

Executive Council

Get to know the Executive Council members.

PositionRegionNameOrganizationCountryGender
PresidentLatin AmericaSeverino Lima JrUnicatadoresBrazilMale
Vice-presidentAsiaSushila SablePBVSIndiaFemale
TreasurerAfricaMaditlhare KoenaSAWPASouth AfricaFemale
1Asia 1PinakiniSEWAIndiaFemale
2Asia 2Kulsum BegumBWPUBangladeshFemale
3Asia 3Pris PollyPPIMIndonesiaMale
4Asia 4Shanti TamangSASAJANepalFemale
5Asia 5Randy C. IrogMIRCAPhilippinesMale
6Africa 1Harouna NiassBokk DiomSenegalMale
7Africa 2Hortance KufukuARCKDRCFemale
8Africa 3Johnson DoeKLWPGhanaMale
9Africa 4Nana MartineUAPBurkina FasoFemale
10Africa 5Molobaly DombiaAMTTDOMaliFemale
11North America 1Josefa MarinAIR-NYCUSAFemale
12North America 2Barbra WeberGSAUSAFemale
13Latin America 1Elbia PisuñaRENARECEcuadorFemale
14Latin America 2Abel BalderasLázaro CárdenasMéxicoMale
15Latin America 3Yenny GonzálezMNRPPanamáFemale
16Latin America 4Robinson GarcíaMNRRDDominican RepublicMale
17Latin America 5Paulina Margarita GonzálezFACCYRArgentinaFemale
18Europe 1Samuel Le CoeurAmeliorFranceMale
19Europe 2Pietro LuppiRete ONUItalyMale

Affiliates #

#Full name of organizationOrganizationsCountryRegionNumber of waste picker members
1Association des Récupérateurs du Congo-KinshasaARCKDemocratic Republic of the CongoAfrica455
2Association Malienne des Trieuses de Dechets sur les depots D’OrduresAMTDDOMaliAfrica2150
3Association pour la Propreté de OuagadougouUAPBurkina FasoAfrica843
4Bokk DiomBokk DiomSenegalAfrica1277
5Kpone Landfill Waste Pickers AssociationKLWPAGhanaAfrica700
6Association of Scraps and Waste PickersASWOLNigeriaAfrica3700
7Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare AssociationKeNaWPWAKenyaAfrica46000
8South Africa Waste Pickers AssociationSAWPASouthAfricaAfrica4500
9African Reclaimers OrganisationAROSouthAfricaAfrica6000
10El tatweer el motagaded association for community developmentZahabaleenEgyptAfrica35
11Enterprise Generale D’Ingenering de GuineeEGIG BTGuineeAfrica824
12Federation Nationale des Syndecats de l’economie de Travailleurs (euses) de l’economie Informelle Du NigerFENASSEINNigerAfrica4800
13Bangladesh Waste Pickers Union (BWPU)BWPUBangladeshAsia-Pacific2286
14Samyukta Safai Jagaran (SASAJA)SASAJANepalAsia-Pacific1150
15Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari PanchayatKKPKPIndiaAsia-Pacific7569
16Marathwada Labour UnionMLUIndiaAsia-Pacific500
17Parisar Bhagini Vikas SanghaPBVSIndiaAsia-Pacific2150
18Parisar Sakhi Vikas SansthaPSVSIndiaAsia-Pacific517
19The Waste Pickers Mutually Aided Co- operative Thrift and Credit Society Limited, VijayawadaWPMACVIndiaAsia-Pacific32
20The Waste Pickers Mutually Aided Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society Limited, GunturWPMACGIndiaAsia-Pacific496
21Thyajya Shramikha SanghaTSSIndiaAsia-Pacific671
22Vasudha Kachra Vechak Seva Bhavi SansthaVKVSBSIndiaAsia-Pacific350
23All India Kachra Shramik MahasanghAIKSMIndiaAsia-Pacific14039
24Safai Sena Welfare FoundationSafai SenaIndiaAsia-Pacific15000
25Sarvodaya Sramik Mahila Cooperative SocietySSMCSIndiaAsia-Pacific2000
26İstanbul Geri Dönüşüm İşçileri DerneğiİSGDİDERTurkeyAsia-Pacific87
27Mintal Resource Collectors’s AssociationMiRCAPhilippinesAsia-Pacific25
28Perkumpulan Pemulung Indonsia MandiriPPIMIndonesiaAsia-Pacific211110
29Safai YoddaSafai YoddaNepalAsia-Pacific251
30Self Employed Women’s AssociationSEWAIndiaAsia-Pacific33861
31Associazione Rete Nazionale Operatori dell’UsatoRete ONUItaliaEurope4000
32Association des Marchés d’Economies Locales et Individuelles Organisés de la RécupérationAmeliorFranceEurope1200
33Asociación Nacional de RecicladoresANRColombiaLatinamerica12500
34Asociación Movimiento Nacional Recicladores de ChileANARCHChileLatinamerica2000
35Asociación Nacional de Recuperadores y Recicladores de El SalvadorANSONARESEl SalvadorLatinamerica130
36Federación de Cooperativas de Reciclado Limitada. Federación Argentina de Cartoneros, Carreros y RecicladoresFACCyRArgentinaLatinamerica19393
37Movimiento Nacional de Recicladores de la Republica DominicanaMNRDDominican RepublicLatinamerica3875
38União Nacional de Catadores e Catadoras de Materiais RecicláveisUnicatadoresBrasilLatinamerica50000
39Movimiento Nacional de Recicladores de HondurasMNRHHondurasLatinamerica93
40Unión de Trabajadores de Desechos Sólidos Industrializables “Lázaro Cárdenas del Río” del Estado de Guanajuato A.C.Lazaro CardenasMexicoLatinamerica60
41Federación Red Nacional de Recicladores del EcuadorRENARECEcuadorLatinamerica1500
42Movimiento Nacional de Recicladores de PanamáMNRPPanamaLatinamerica1200
43Unión de Clasificadores de Residuos Urbanos SólidosUCRUS- PIT CNTUruguayLatinamerica2830
44Federación Nacional de Recicladores del PerúFENAREPPeruLatinamerica175
45Frente Nacional de Recicladores Ambientalistas del PerúFRENARAPeruLatinamerica400
46Movimiento Nacional de Personas Recicladores de Base de Costa RicaMNPRBCRCosta RicaLatinamerica52
47Alliance of Independent RecyclersAIRUSANorth America60
48Ground Score AssociationGSAUSANorth America51
49Les Valoristes, solidarity cooperativeLes ValoristesCanadaNorth America97
50Binner’s ProjectBinner’s ProjectCanadaNorth America428
This list is also available in a map view.

Staff #

These are the members of current International Alliance of Waste Pickers’ staff:

NamePosition
Kabir AroraGeneral Secretary, Asia-Pacific Coordinator and Advocacy Lead
Carolina PalacioOrganisational Development Officer
Pablo Rey MazónOperations, Communication and Digital Infrastructures Manager
Clara Simas FerrazSocial Justice Bond Project Officer
Amira El HalabiAfrica Coordinator and Advocacy lead
Taylor Cass TalbottAdvocacy Coordinator and North America Interim Coordinator
Sharon AwuorAfrica Advocacy Assistant
Cristiano BenitesInterpretation and Translations Officer
Alejandro MejiaLatin American Organizing Support Assistant
Ashwini JogAsia Pacific Assistant and Interpretation Coordinator

Long version:

Kabir Arora

Kabir Arora

General Secretary, Asia-Pacific Coordinator and Advocacy Lead

The Asia Pacific Coordinator and Advocacy Associate is responsible for providing support to the organizations of waste pickers in Asia-Pacific region, with the aim of developing regional solidarity and sharing, and a common strategy. He is also responsible for coordinating regional inputs to the process towards the Inaugural Elective Congress of the IAWP. In addition, he is responsible for articulating advocacy efforts to support waste pickers organizations in the region, and for contributing to global advocacy efforts. He should assist Lucia Fernandez, Acting General Secretary (AGS) to develop the IAWP to make it an internationally solidarity network with tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Carolina Palacio

Carolina Palacio

Organisational Development Officer

The Organisational Development Officer should revise the implementation of the values statued in the IAWP Constitution and will be responsible for the process towards the Inaugural Elective Congress of the IAWP under Acting General Secretary (AGS) supervision. She will implement values written on the Constitution with the potential affiliates with a Workers’ Education approach that includes organisational training of leaders. She should assist the Acting General Secretary (AGS) to develop the IAWP to make it an internationally solidarity network with tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Pablo Rey Mazón

Pablo Rey Mazón

Operations, Communication and Digital Infrastructures Manager

IAWP Operations, Communications and Digital Infrastructure Manager will be responsible for planning, developing, setting and maintaining the digital structures needed to strengthen the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) and particularly their interim staff. He should also assist the Acting General Secretary (AGS) to co-ordinate communications to make IAWP an internationally solidarity network with tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Clara Simas Ferraz

Clara Simas Ferraz

Social Justice Bond Project Officer

SJB Project Officer (PO) will develop, implement and oversee operational, financial management, & evaluation systems, as well as daily operations of their current Social Justice Bond Project (SJB) that supports the International Alliance of Wastepicker’s development. She should assist the Acting General Secretary (AGS) to co-ordinate IAWP SJB project to contribute to make IAWP a tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Amira El Halabi

Amira El Halabi

Africa Coordinator and Advocacy lead

The Africa Coordinator and Advocacy Associate is responsible for providing support to the organizations of waste pickers in the Africa region, with the aim of developing regional solidarity and sharing, and a common strategy. She is also responsible for coordinating regional inputs to the process towards the Inaugural Elective Congress of the IAWP. In addition, she is responsible for articulating advocacy efforts to support waste pickers organizations in the region, and for contributing to global advocacy efforts. She should assist the Acting General Secretary (AGS) to develop the IAWP to make it an internationally solidarity network with tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Taylor Cass Talbott

Taylor Cass Talbott

Advocacy Coordinator and North America Interim Coordinator

The IAWP Advocacy Coordinator should be responsible for coordinating the advocacy plan towards the Inaugural Elective Congress of the IAWP under Acting General Secretary (AGS) supervision. She oversees IAWP’s global advocacy organising strategy on just transition, EPR, plastics treaty and climate change. This includes workers education for waste pickers in coordination with the Organizational Development Officer, as well as technical support to waste picker organisations involving WIEGO and other allies expertise. She will also support the North American waste picker region, namely on issues related to the plastics treaty, just transition and IAWP affiliation. She should assist the Acting General Secretary (AGS) to develop the IAWP to make it an internationally solidarity network with tangible force on the ground, capable of representing and furthering the interests of the poorest waste pickers (with particular focus on women) throughout the world.

Sharon Awuor

Sharon Awuor

Africa Advocacy Assistant

The Africa Advocacy Assistant supports waste picker organizations in Africa by assisting in advocacy efforts and providing administrative support. Working closely with the Africa Coordinator, her role also involves mapping waste management policies, assessing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies, rolling out the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) calculator, and facilitating national advocacy training. Additionally, she should handle administrative tasks such as securing timely reports and coordinating meetings and workshops. Her role plays a crucial part in advancing the rights and interests of waste pickers across the continent.

Cristiano Benites

Cristiano Benites

Interpretation and Translations Officer

The Interpretation and Translations Officer main task is to accompany the Acting Working Committee (AWC) of the IAWP, sub-committees (E. g. Plastic Treaty group), and regional coordination meetings in coordinating the interpretation and translation when required.

Alejandro Mejia

Alejandro Mejia

Latin American Organizing Support Assistant

The Latin America Coordinator is responsible for supporting waste picker organisations in the Latin American and Caribbean region through technical assistance, facilitating articulation between affiliates and countries to strengthen regional integration and with other regions, and contributing to global advocacy efforts. The Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the involvement of affiliates in the region and their contributions to the IAWP Inaugural Congress. In addition, the Coordinator is responsible for advising on processes and projects to strengthen their organisations.

Ashwini Jog

Ashwini Jog

Asia Pacific Assistant and Interpretation Coordinator

The Asia Pacific Assistant and Interpretation Coordinator supports the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) by providing logistical and interpretation support for regional meetings, participating in training, assisting project officers and coordinators including the Acting General Secretary, and aiding in communication for congress purposes. Further, the job responsibility includes accurate interpretation services for IAWP meetings and events, managing interpretation schedules, providing language support, maintaining quality control, supporting interpreters, managing budgets, coordinating with other teams, and translating meeting minutes.