Waste-pickers want to save the planet

By Shannon Swainston
shan.swainston@gmail.com

There are over 15 million waste-pickers worldwide. Waste-pickers make their living from collecting rubbish and taking it to recycling plants. For many, it is not only a job, but a livelihood too.

Baby Mohite speaks passionately about waste-picking, which she has been doing for 20 years

Today members from Waste-picker organisations joined together at the DGI Byen building to share their experiences and express the need for political action regarding recycling.

The panel consisted of six people dedicated to recycling and countering climate change from India and South America.

One of the speakers was Baby Mohite, from India, who has been waste-picking for 20 years. She spoke of how her humble beginnings at the landfill are turning into a more lucrative and respected enterprise.

“We just put our hands in the dirty garbage and take out materials. We were ignored, looked down upon, and discriminated against.”

“But now there is a new co-operation where we collect waste in the city,” she explains.

Before this new co-operation, Ms Mohite and her fellow waste-pickers were not paid: they only received money from the recycling plants. But with this new initiative they receive money from clients, along with a new leaf of respect.

“People who used to look down on us are now the same people who pay us and give us respect. We are happy with the money but we are more happy with the respect,” she says.

The speakers acknowledge that while all countries pollute, the Western countries pollute well over their fair share.

“The poor do not pollute as much as the rich. It is the poor like us who have to take care of the pollution,” says Ms Mohite.

Exequiel Estay, secretary general of the National Movement of Waste-pickers in Chile

Mohan Navare, president of Ms Mohite’s waste-picking organisation (KKPKP), says that “there are no borders when talking about the environment, it effects everyone.”

He also believes that political solutions are the way to go, and “change cannot be brought about with the barrel of a gun.”

Exequiel Estay, secretary general of the National movement of waste-pickers in Chile, who was also on the panel, agrees with Mr Navare and believes that “we need inclusive policies and laws. You can start with segregating your own rubbish. Talk to authorities and let them know waste-picking exists.”

“We are talking to everyone. People with light skin, non-light skin, hair, and no hair, glasses and no glasses. We are here because we want to save the planet,” he says.

See the Wastepickers at the Bella Centre now