MODES OF URBAN INORGANIC SOLID WASTE 123
Social aspects
The majority of people working in trade and recycling of waste materials, do so in
informalised work settings, which leave them vulnerable to poor working conditions,
low and irregular wage levels, and harassment from outsiders (van Eerd, 1996;
Bromley, 1978; Huysman, 1994; Beall, 1997). This holds true for all waste pickers,
but also in large measure for itinerant buyers, and the daily wageworkers hired by
dealers, wholesalers and recycling enterprises. The women and children face partic-
ular health hazards from injuries, inhaling toxic fumes, or contamination from
infectious waste (see chapter 11).
Concerns for their health and working conditions have led to opposite views on the
social acceptability of trade and recycling activities. Some commentators feel that
informal collection of waste by pickers should be banned, whereas others suggest that
working conditions should be improved to support the efforts of people undertaking
such activities (Hunt, 1996; Furedy, 1992). Furedy (1995, 1997a, 1997b) has
suggested that people working in the most hazardous and degrading conditions – street
and dump pickers – should find alternative employment, and that others in the
commodity chain – such as the itinerant buyer, trader and wholesaler – should have
their work supported by removing existing barriers to their activities. Karanja supports
the idea that social and working conditions of pickers should be improved, as few
alternative employment opportunities are available.
The pickers themselves face a great deal of social ostracism, which sometime leads to
social isolation and a lack of channels through which to improve their conditions.
NGOs working with waste pickers have concentrated on women waste pickers and
street children picking waste (Lapid et al., 1996; Vincentian missionaries, 1998). In
several places, women pickers have been assisted in organising co-operatives, in
attempts to increase their incomes and power vis-à-vis their customers
(Bhuvaneshwari, 1998; Lapid et al., 1996; Chikarmane et al., n.d.). Youngsters,
mainly boys, have been approached as street children, often by religious orders
Attempts have concentrated on getting them off the street, providing them with alter-
native skills and accumulating savings, or improving their health conditions (Hunt,
1996). In Nairobi, about 60,000 street children are estimated to survive on reuse of
waste materials at some time (Karanja, pers com.). Although NGO initiatives are
important, they are not widespread, and the majority of waste pickers have to survive
on their own.
Medium scale enterprises in Latin America provide employment for their workers at
minimum wage level and up to twice the legal minimum wages (Arroyo Moreno et al.,
1997/1999). The recovery activities pay less than the activities involved in collection
and disposal. In Peru, particularly women are the active associates in the enterprises
involved in recovery and recycling activities, whereas in the other countries this tends
to be a male activity. The percentage of men and women varies within the region: from