India, a highly populated nation, has the highest engendered waste. Informal Waste pickers are the primary waste collectors. The individuals who collect and segregate recyclable waste play a vital role in the waste management System of India, but unfortunately, their crucial work is not recognized. Even after strong efforts and hard work, these informal waste pickers and their contribution to waste management are still invisible to the world.
These informal waste pickers are called the scavengers. Scavengers collect informal waste from the streets, along roadsides, dumpsites, or landfills, and the amount of these recyclable materials contributes to a circular economy and also reduces the burdens on landfills. There are 1.5 million to 4 million informal waste pickers in India where, with half being women, collecting an average of 60 to 90 kilograms of waste per day. They work about 8 to 10 hours a day exposing themselves to various health challenges and injuries.
Despite their integral role in waste management, these informal waste pickers struggle to make their financial earnings stable due to a lack of money.
The benefits of informal waste pickers:
Informal waste pickers are very important when it comes to waste collection in rural areas. The formal waste management systems struggle in rural areas, while the informal waste pickers fill this gap by collecting recyclable waste even from communities that are poor.
They provide significant support to the economy by supplying recyclable waste to recycling industries. They have a deep understanding of recyclable waste, and they are skilled at sorting the waste. Also, collecting recyclable waste like plastic from landfills not only extends the lifespan of sites but also reduces the overburden on the system and helps in lowering environmental pollution. By collecting waste for free, they are not only reducing the burden on municipalities but also subsidizing waste management. Collecting waste in unserviceable areas helped lower the municipality's costs and save money by reducing the load of formal systems.
Informal waste pickers provide a free but valuable service to keep local regions and neighborhoods clean from hazardous waste. This likely promotes sustainability by lowering the health risks associated with uncollected waste.
The challenges to the informal waste pickers :
Informal waste pickers face discrimination from society as waste picking is seen as a low-status profession.
Informal waste pickers are not well recognized, have no social security like pensions or health insurance, and are excluded from legal policies and frameworks. They also have unstable occupations without formal contracts or job security. For marginalized communities, waste picking provides a source of income. However, due to their lack of recognition, they do not have access to social benefits or legal protection.
The private sector's involvement in waste management has limited access to dump sites and pushed informal waste pickers to take on more risks with their picking practices.
Informal waste pickers are facing several emotional or psychological challenges like anxiety, emotional distress, and helplessness due to their unstable financial condition.
Lack of equipment leads informal waste pickers to health risks and safety concerns.
Working without safety equipment increases their vulnerability to injuries. They are often exposed to toxic substances and high-level pollution. Working in a hazardous environment exposes them to a variety of health risks, like direct cuts, infections, respiratory issues, and injuries. The health issues are also exacerbated by working and living in areas with poor sanitation facilities.
Conclusion:
Though some level of recognition has been received by the informal waste pickers with inclusion in waste management systems, they often criticized and raised concerns regarding the potential displacement of informal waste pickers. Therefore, it is very necessary to provide legal recognition to this integral part of the Indian waste management System. For the improvement in working conditions, informal waste pickers must be integrated into formal waste management systems so that these informal workers can also get benefits of social security. Their shares must be provided in the recycling profits. There should be availability of proper equipment for them so they can handle the waste safely.
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