Waste pickers navigate through the landscape of waste generation, segregation, and recycling, playing a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of our consumption patterns. On World Environment Day this year, the global community – including governments, NGOs, and environmental activists – is rallying around a critical imperative: land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. https://thewire.in/environment/why-waster-pickers-contribution-to-urban-waste-management-needs-to-be-recognised
Waste pickers are the backbone of urban waste management – segregating and recycling waste to significantly reduce the burden on landfills, mitigation pollution and keeping the city clean.
While waste pickers’ earnings may be modest, their contributions yield significant savings for the city in terms of waste management costs. On an average, a waste picker collects about 60–90 kg of waste per day, working for about 8–10 hours (CSE, 2021). Their contributions are vital in reducing municipal costs and promoting economic efficiency. Recycling materials such as plastic, paper, glass, and metal reduces the need for raw material extraction and manufacturing processes, which are often resource-intensive and costly. By reintroducing these materials into the production cycle, waste pickers facilitate resource conservation and promote a more sustainable and circular economy.
As we celebrate World Environment Day, let us pledge to elevate the status of waste pickers, recognise their vital role in protecting the environment, and work towards building a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
by Shalini Sinha and Rituraj Pegu
06/06/2024