Executive Council

Severino Lima Junior, a grassroots waste picker from the COOCAMAR Cooperative located in Natal-RN has been involved in waste picking since he was a teenager, starting out in the city’s old rubbish dump, founding the ASCAMAR and COOCAMAR organizations that began the work of door-to-door selective collection in the municipality of Natal. together with leaders from various states in Brazil, the MNCR National Movement of Waste Pickers with a major meeting in Brasilia in 2001. Brasília in 2001, thus holding the first national meeting of waste pickers. collectors of recyclable materials, which gave rise in 2016 to the organization UNICATADORES National Union of Waste Pickers of Brazil currently affiliated with the IAWP INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WASTE PICKERS, carries out various activities of national and international relevance. activities of national and international relevance, together with leaders from Chile and Colombia build the RED LACRE Latin American and Caribbean Network of Waste Pickers. with the participation of the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

He is a delegate member of the IAWP, nominated by the Brazilian delegation to participate in the UNEA conferences on the International Plastics Treaty, and has been very active in the INC meetings.

Severino has participated in the plastics treaty negotiations known as INCs (Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee). As a delegate and IAWP representative at INC-3 and INC-4, he received a registration badge from the Brazilian government, giving him a voice among the Brazilian negotiators. He also worked with the government to organize an event in collaboration with the International Alliance of Waste Pickers. of Waste Pickers at the INC-4 negotiations in Nairobi. Receiving a badge from the Brazilian government as part of the official delegation to attend the INCs and then organizing an event in collaboration with the Brazilian government, is a testament to the fact that he is a strong leader with good negotiating skills.

Participating on behalf of UNICATADORES Brazil in the latest ILO International Assembly held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, where together with sister networks STREET NET, FITH and HOMENET he has been seeking an alliance to build the INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WORKERS AND WORKERS OF THE SOLIDARY CIRCULAR ECONOMY within the precepts of the Just Transition. Just Transition.

It is currently coordinating the participation of waste pickers in the COP 30 climate conference to be held in Brazil in 2025 in the city of Belém, which is part of the Brazilian AMAZONIA Brasileira with the aim of promoting greater participation by waste pickers in this important international event.

Sushila Sable was born in Shirner village in Jalna district, Maharashtra, India. Her childhood was marked by the harsh realities of poverty exacerbated by the 1972 drought. Forced to migrate to Mumbai with her family in search of a better life, Sushila found herself thrust into the challenging world of waste picking at a young age. Despite the adversity she faced, Sushila never lost sight of her dreams.

While searching for recyclable materials on the streets of Ghatkopar, Mumbai, she yearned for an education, often watching enviously as other children went to school. Her journey to literacy began at the age of 30 when she read her first letters. Today, at 58, she proudly fulfills her long-held desire to learn English, showcasing her unwavering commitment to self-improvement. Married off at a young age, Sushila courageously left her abusive husband to pursue a better life for herself and her son.

Returning to her mother, she resumed waste picking and eventually became involved with the Stree Mukti Sangathana (SMS), a pivotal moment that transformed her life. Inspired by a play performed by SMS activists, Sushila helped establish self-help groups (SHGs) and later Federation of SHGs for waste pickers, overcoming barriers of illiteracy and financial exclusion to open bank accounts for her community. Her leadership and determination didn’t stop there. By 1999, she had formed her own SHG with ten members and rose to become the president of the Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangha (PBVS) with more than 2500 members in Mumbai and 500 in Thane, advocating tirelessly for the rights and dignity of waste pickers.

Under her guidance, PBVS became a formidable force, representing thousands of waste pickers across Mumbai and Thane in Maharashtra, India. Sushila continues to be associated with the Stree Mukti Sanghatana (Women’s Liberation Organization) established in 1975.

Sushila’s impact extended beyond her immediate community. Through her involvement with SMS and PBVS, she became a prominent voice on national and global platforms, advocating for waste pickers’ rights and environmental sustainability. Her participation in international forums, including the United Nations Climate Change Conference, highlights her commitment to effecting change on a global scale. At present, Sushila serves as the Program Committee member of the Alliance of Indian Waste Pickers, an informal coalition of waste pickers organizations in India, with an outreach to 100,000 waste pickers. She also serves as the voting representative of Indian organizations in the Acting Working Committee of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP), and a member of the Plastics Treaty Working Group within IAWP.

Despite the challenges she faces, Sushila remains undeterred in her fight for recognition and respect for waste pickers. Through her advocacy, she continues to push for their integration into solid waste management systems and the implementation of policies that safeguard their well-being and livelihoods.

She is the NCC for SAWPA.
She is the one overseeing all activities of organization that are runned accordingly.
She has also been our communication officer for more than 2 years now.
She a Good communicator.
Play a vital role in EPR; INC-1 to INC-4.
Able to deliver under pressure above all.
Respect and understand the aims and vision of SAWPA

Kulsum is a waste picker who has been recovering waste materials from dumpsites and streets for making her livelihood for the last 26 years in Dhaka City. She had to migrate with her father because of losing her homestead and means of livelihood by the coastal flood and river erosion. She worked for organizing 2868 waste pickers of 7 major cities of Bangladesh and now is the General Secretary of Bangladesh Waste Pickers Union. BWPU is closely working with Bangladesh Trade Union Centre and Grambangla Unnayan Committee for building its capacity and organizing waste pickers across Bangladesh.

My name is Pinakini Ben Solanki, a waste recycler from the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat State. I was born in a family where waste recycling has been the source of livelihood for generations, my mother was also a waste recycler and so was my grandmother. But the difference is that I was introduced to the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) at an early age which paved my way to the future. I learned about the importance of education and got a graduate degree and also made sure that both my children get good education from the beginning – today my daughter is studying medicine and my son just completed his high school. I am an elected member of SEWA’s executive committee and represent waste recyclers in the same. Additionally, I am part of the SEWA’s Gitanjali – a waste recyclers cooperative making products from waste paper and the Value Creation Centre (VCC). Lastly, in line with SEWA’s vision, work on empowerment of women workers including waste recyclers with 3 Vs – voice, visibility and viability.

Randy Irog was a hardworking individual who lived in the small village of Barangay Mintal in Davao City. Like many others in our neighbourhood, he struggled to make ends meet and often worked long hours to support himself and his family. Randy earns his livelihood by collecting recyclable materials from his community, homes, streets, and alleyways.

However, Randy faced challenges in his work as not everyone in the community supported his efforts. Despite being proud of his work, he often received harsh feedback from others. He was even denied entry into specific communities occasionally due to a lack of a registered vehicle or official verification from the authorities.

Despite these obstacles, Randy has been determined to succeed and sought assistance. He enrolled in PHINLA Global Program, which was carried out in collaboration with the Barangay Mintal Council and supported resource collectors like Randy. Through this program, Randy received the help and resources he needed to improve his collecting methods, increase efficiency, and expand his operations to provide house-to-house collection services to residents, businesses, and educational institutions.

Despite the challenges, Randy persevered. His hard work and determination paid off, and he became a respected and integral part of his community. Randy’s understanding of the value of his work, not just in improving the environment but also in providing a vital service to his fellow citizens, is commendable. Today, as the Chairman of the Mintal Resource Collectors Association and IAWP Executive Council member, he continues to gather recyclable items, confident that his work is making a significant and positive impact on the planet and his community.

Shanti Tamang, Chairperson of Samyukta Safai Jagaran, first organization of Informal Waste Workers of Nepal. With all struggles in social status and economy as a waste worker, I have always strived for the empowerment of the waste worker’s community. The organization was successful in establishing a first cooperative of Informal Waste Worker’s named Samyukta Safai Jagaran Saving & Credit Cooperative Ltd. I am the chairperson of the cooperative too. I have come this far by learning and doing and being a strong advocate for the recognition and empowerment of informal waste workers. My future plan is to expand the reach of cooperative and organization to all informal waste workers in Nepal.

Harouna Niass, of Dakar, Senegal, also the current President of the Association Bokk Diom des Recuperateurs et Recycleurs in Mbeubeuss. He started recycling when he was 25 years old. He is 42.

By working as a recycler with his association, Harouna is able to support his family as the sole provider. He says the profession also him to make a decent living.

When he is not recycling, Harouna supports other recyclers — whom he calls comrades — by organizing assemblies and helping spread the message that recyclers deserve to be treated like other workers. During his term as a president, Harouna supported the formation of Women Waste Pickers Committee in Bok Diom and a cooperative.

Hortance Kufuku, from the DRC, is President of the Association des Collecteurs de Déchets du Congo-Kinshasa (ARCK) which has been in operation since 2008. Her educational background is in business sciences. The Association has members working in different locations and are grouped according to their sectors of activity: such as plastic, scrap metal and household waste. The Association supports workers through training and awareness of women’s empowerment in the mobile sector. As an elected member of the IAWP Exco, Hortance aims to support fellow waste pickers by championing training and raising awareness on women empowerment and gender-based violence against women in the informal sector, knowledge exchange by creating opportunities for workers to share their experiences with other workers across the regions, supporting in creating visibility for workers in the informal sector and mobilising financial resources.

Johnson Doe is chairman of Kpone Landfill Waste Pickers Association. He was elected also as the leader of the first waste pickers cooperative in Ghana. He is a senior high school graduate and hoping to continue. He is married with 4 kids and lives with his family).

Mrs Molobaly, born on 31 December 1963 in Tiemogola, in the Koulikoro region of Mali, is a remarkable woman. For over 30 years, she has been involved in the field of recovery and, despite her advanced age, she continues her efforts to provide for her family and support her community. In 2016, she was elected head of the association of reclaimers at the depot where she works, located in Olympus. Thanks to the merger of the depots and WIEGO’s support in 2017, she was also elected president of all the reclaimers in Mali within the Association Malienne des Trieuses de Déchets sur les Dépôts d’Ordures (AMTDDO MALI). As an active member of this association, Ms Molobaly now sits on the executive committee of the International Alliance of Recyclers (AIR).

Nana Martine is a founding member of UAP (Burkina Faso) and the coordinator of waste ìckers in her administrative district. She has been working in recycling since 1998.

Pris Polly Davina Lengkong (Pris Polly for short) has been the Chairperson of Perkumpulan Pemulung Indonsia Mandiri (PPIM)—Ikatan Pemulung Indonesia (IPI) since 2019. He started working as a waste picker in his early years of youth. Later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. He served as Deputy Secretary General of IPI from 1995-2000, Chairman of Education and Culture of IPI from 2000-2005, and Chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of IPI from 2014-2019.Pris Polly Davina Lengkong (Pris Polly for short) has been the Chairperson of Perkumpulan Pemulung Indonsia Mandiri (PPIM)—Ikatan Pemulung Indonesia (IPI) since 2019. He started working as a waste picker in his early years of youth. Later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. He served as Deputy Secretary General of IPI from 1995-2000, Chairman of Education and Culture of IPI from 2000-2005, and Chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of IPI from 2014-2019.

Barbra (Barbie) Weber is the Co-founder and Co-Executive Director for Ground Score Association a Waste Picker organization in Portland, Oregon USA. Barbra organizes with various local, national and international organizations. Barbra is a second generation waste picker, a villager in a self governed informal settlement and she is a committed advocate on issues regarding hygiene access, environmental justice, worker rights, systemic poverty and systemic racism. Barbra believes in inclusive community collaboration, she is a gifted public speaker, experienced organizer, and is well respected in her community. Her artistic endeavors include playing guitar in public and painting pottery for charity.

Josefa Marin is the President of the newly-formed Alliance of Independent Recyclers, and a board member of the non-profit redemption center Sure We Can. She is based in Brooklyn (New York, USA), and has been recycling for over twenty years. She is originally from Puebla, Mexico.

Abel comes from a family of waste pickers; he has been a waste picker since he was 8 years old and is currently 44 years old. He is president of the Lázaro Cárdenas del Río Association of Dolores Hidalgo Guanajuato, Mexico and from there he leads the National Movement of waste pickers of Mexico. He is currently secretary of Organic Articulation for RedLacre and is a member of the Executive Board of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers.

María Elbia Pisuña Llulluna, president of RENAREC, leads the Federation that represents more than 20,000 waste pickers in Ecuador. With 36 years of experience in waste picking, she began at the age of 14 and has worked in dumps, streets and housing developments, standing out for her socio-educational work. Since 2008, he has expanded his focus to training citizens in waste management. Her international projection has strengthened organizations. She is currently a member of REDLACRE’s communications secretariat. Its commitment includes a strong social component, for the recognition of waste picking as work and dignity.

Paulina is a waste picker from the municipality of Tres de Febrero, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She began to recycle after her release from prison, initially on her own in order to be able to provide food for herself and her family. She formed the Cooperativa las Pibas Reciclan with the aim of providing a work space for women waste pickers who were working in the municipality.
She made a special emphasis on the incorporation of people who have been locked up or who are going through consumption problems. In addition, the cooperative seeks to support those women who are under house arrest, unable to go out to work and perform their tasks, most of them being heads of household and responsible for the care of their children.
It is part of the Federación Argentina de Cartoneros, Carreros y Recicladores (FACCyR), an organization that defends the rights of waste pickers throughout Argentina and fights for recycling systems with social inclusion.
FACCyR promotes the creation of recycling systems within the Penitentiary Units of the Province of Buenos Aires so that those people who are detained begin a process of re-socialization through work and in conjunction with cooperatives of waste pickers.

President of the association of waste pickers of the national district and president of the national movement of waste pickers of the Dominican Republic. Since he was 8 years old, he has been dedicated to waste picking in the transfer station of the national district along with more than 100 fellow waste pickers. The National Movement is a legal organization that integrates 14 organizations formed with the objective of strengthening and accompanying the organizational processes that include waste pickers in the country. Currently, Robinson is a representative member of Redlacre’s communication secretary.

President of the organization (MNRP, Panama) for 3 consecutive terms, member of the pro-environment cooperative, operational secretary of Red Lacre.

Pietro Luppi is a pioneer of the processes of self-organization of Italian waste pickers, promoting since 2002 the creation of independent networks, and coordinating in 2011 the creation of Rete ONU: the national network of Italian second-hand operators, which today represents about 4,500 vulnerable operators before the institutions; Pietro Luppi is currently the scientific director of the organization.

An activist for the rights of biffins and récupérateurs (waste pickers in French) since 2008, Samuel Le Coeur founded the AMELIOR association in 2012, which has members in Paris region and Marseille in France. Samuel is its national representative.