Characteristics of Waste Pickers in Nakuru and Thika Municipal Dumpsites in Kenya

Kariuki, J. M.; Bates, Margaret P; Magana, Adiel

doi:10.9734/cjast/2019/v37i130272

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…In this matter, the avoided carbon footprint due to the informal collection process can help decision-makers better understand this activity's environmental sustainability since this indicator is well-known and easier to understand than other environmental categories in the life cycle assessment methodology. In general, informal waste collectors and the informal recycling industry will be crucial components of the circular economy in the global south in any plausible future scenario [ 11 , 44 ]. Integrating the current unofficial recycling schemes into the MSWM can significantly impact the livelihoods of IWPs, society, and the environment [ 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Integrating the current unofficial recycling schemes into the MSWM can significantly impact the livelihoods of IWPs, society, and the environment [ 45 ]. However, they are still seen as nasty, drug-using outlaws despite their importance to the environment and economy, and they must deal with exploitation and unfair power dynamics with the rest of the waste management hierarchy [ 44 , 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Informal waste pickers in guayaquil: Recycling rates, environmental benefits, main barriers, and troubles

Hidalgo-Crespo,

Amaya-Rivas,

Ribeiro

et al. 2023

Heliyon

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informal waste pickers in guayaquil: Recycling rates, environmental benefits, main barriers, and troubles

Hidalgo-Crespo,

Amaya-Rivas,

Ribeiro

et al. 2023

Heliyon

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“…Waste pickers have different names according to language and local contexts: Cartonero or Reciclador (Argentina), Zabaleen (Egypt), Barbécha (Tunisia), Cachurero (Chile), Reciclador (Colombia), Catador (Brazil), Buzo (Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua) or Kabariwalla (India). Negative naming (e.g., Ciruja in Argentina or Basuriego in Colombia) reinforces existing social stigma and is used to justify violent oppression and prejudice against these workers, associating them with dirt and stereotypes such as being a beggar, an outlaw, vagabond, slacker or destitute, which further distances these individuals from other citizens within their communities (Kariuki et al, 2019;Yousafzai et al, 2020).…”

Section: Independent Waste Pickersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Plastic Pollution and Informal Waste Pickers

Gutberlet¹

2023

Camb. prisms Plast.

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Increasingly plastic pollution is being recognized as a critical environmental and human health threat of unprecedented scale and complexity. While trends in plastic production and consumption are still on the rise, the negative effects of uncollected, mismanaged, dumped or incinerated plastic waste are causing profound impacts on the environment, oceans, climate and food chains compromising the quality of life for humans and other living beings, with expected cumulative negative effects for the near future. Particularly populations in the Global South, where new markets for plastic consumer goods have rapidly emerged over the past 30 years, while waste management, in general, has remained precarious, underfunded or inexistent, directly experience the burdens of plastic pollution. The emerging environmental problems are particularly visible in these regions and so are also possible solutions and alternatives. Approximately 20 million informal workers already recover plastic waste from the garbage in the Global South, usually working under precarious, risky and poorly paid conditions. The literature claims that they represent a workforce that if recognized, integrated and valued and under decent work conditions and fair remuneration could potentially increase significantly the capturing of plastic waste and reduce the amount of fugitive plastics. This review paper applies an anthropogenic global environmental change theory lens to discuss the key challenges in managing plastic waste and global plastic pollution, uncovering major causes, impacts from dispersion and leakage of plastics into soil, water and air, recognizing the relational and geographic perspectives of plastic waste. A concerted effort is required to coordinating policies and technological solutions in order to strengthening, fund and recognize the waste picker sector as a key protagonist in addressing this waste issue.

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“…All around the world, there are millions of people who work at the lower end of the recycling value chain; collecting, sorting, and selling reusable and recyclable materials they find in streets, landfills, waterways, and open dumpsites across all cities and small towns [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Known as waste pickers (or waste reclaimers), these workers make significant, but under-valued, environmental and economic contributions.…”

Section: The Broader Context Of Waste Picking Health and Occupational...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with Waste: Hazards and Mitigation Strategies Used by Waste Pickers in the Inner City of Durban

Mlotshwa

Dayaram

Khanyile

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Informal waste pickers in cities across the Global South divert significant amounts of tonnage from landfills. This diversion contributes towards a sustainable environment and better public health practices. Informal workers globally derive livelihoods from collecting, sorting, and selling recyclable waste. In South Africa, there is growing recognition of the valuable work that waste pickers carry out. Despite this, however, these informal workers remain largely unrecognised, are often stigmatised, and suffer from a lack of social protection linked to their work. This lack of recognition and protection creates specific occupational hazards for waste pickers. Using an ethnographic method, this study explores the physical and socio-psychological hazards that emerge from waste picking on the streets of the inner city of Durban, in South Africa. We found that the waste pickers, the majority of whom were women, developed mitigation strategies against these risks. A better understanding of how the occupational hazards of waste picking are shaped by the local context of working on the street enables the recognition of the knowledge waste pickers already hold regarding mitigation strategies. Insight into occupational hazards are important to consider if the municipal integration of waste pickers is to happen in a way that ensures access to social protections for these informal workers.

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Characteristics of Waste Pickers in Nakuru and Thika Municipal Dumpsites in Kenya

Cited by 11 publications

References 13 publications

Informal waste pickers in guayaquil: Recycling rates, environmental benefits, main barriers, and troubles

Informal waste pickers in guayaquil: Recycling rates, environmental benefits, main barriers, and troubles

Global Plastic Pollution and Informal Waste Pickers

Working with Waste: Hazards and Mitigation Strategies Used by Waste Pickers in the Inner City of Durban

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