Informal waste picker: Indispensable but invisible part of workforce

Source-This post on Informal waste picker: Indispensable but invisible part of workforce has been created based on the article “Understanding the world of the informal waste picker” published in “The Hindu” on 28 February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus–GS Paper 3– Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment. GS paper 1- Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

News-The article highlights the exclusion and marginalization of informal waste pickers.

What is the definition of Informal Waste Management Sector?

As per The International Labour Organization, they are individuals or small and micro-enterprises that intervene in waste management without being registered. They are not formally charged for providing waste management services.

What is the percentage of informal waste pickers in India’s workforce?

There are no reliable estimates of informal waste pickers in India. However, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18, India has nearly 1.5 million waste pickers in its urban workforce. The workforce usually consists of women, children and the elderly, who are often disabled, are the poorest of the urban poor, and face violence and sexual harassment.

Globally, this sector employs about 0.5%–2% of the urban population.

A detailed article on “Waste Management in India: Status, Challenges and Solutions” can be read here.

What are the challenges faced by informal waste pickers in India?

1) Lack of data-There is no reliable data on exact participation of informal waste pickers in India’s workforce. This prevents their integration into the formal economy.

2) Lack of recognition-They are not recognized and acknowledged by society for their work. Although, they play an important role in sustainable urban waste management.

3) Neglect of health-They live near dumpsites and work under unhygienic and unhealthy conditions. This leads to dermatological and respiratory health issues apart from regular injuries.

4) Social Discrimination-They are treated as dirty and unwanted elements of society, and they have to deal with exploitative social behaviour.

5) Loss of employment due to Private sector participation- As per Alliance of Indian Waste Pickers (AIW) 2023 report, private actors use expensive machinery and offers competitive rates to waste generators such as households and businesses.
This deprives the informal pickers of their employment and forces them into hazardous waste picking.

6) Extended Producer Responsibility– According to report of Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), it redirects waste away from the informal sector. This leads to large-scale unemployment of informal waste pickers.

What should be the way forward?

1) Plastic treaty– This is a UN endorsed resolution to end plastic pollution.However,it must ensure that employment of informal waste pickers is not endangered.

2) Reforms in EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)-EPR guidelines should prioritize the welfare of informal waste pickers. This will be a win-win situation as waste pickers possess traditional knowledge around handling waste and this knowledge can be utilized to strengthen EPR.

Question for practice

Highlight the challenges faced by informal waste pickers in India. What steps can be taken to ensure their welfare?