Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Inclusive growth and associated issues/challenges; Environmental pollution and degradation
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Inclusive Development
– Waste Management
– Informal Workforce
– Marginalised Communities
Context
March 1 marks International Waste Pickers Day, commemorating the Colombian waste pickers murdered in 1992. This article examines role of informal waste pickers in waste management.
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 1st March 2024
Understanding the world of Informal Waste Pickers
Informal waste pickers constitute a vital yet often overlooked segment within the waste management ecosystem, playing a significant role in resource recovery and recycling. Their contributions, however, are overshadowed by systemic marginalization and lack of recognition within formal waste management structures.
Informal Waste Pickers
The International Labour Organization defines the informal sector in waste management as ‘individuals or small and micro-enterprises that intervene in waste management without being registered and without being formally charged with providing waste management services’.
These workers are the primary collectors of recyclable waste, playing a critical role in waste management and resource efficiency by collecting, sorting, trading and sometimes even reinserting discarded waste back into the economy.
Data Point
- Centre for Science and Environment reported that the informal waste economy employs about 0.5%–2% of the urban population globally.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18 indicates that there are nearly 1.5 million waste pickers within India’s urban workforce, with half a million being women.
Challenges faced by Informal Waste Pickers
- Socio-economic issues:
- Waste pickers often live below the poverty line and lack access to basic social security schemes and legal protections.
- Caste Hierarchies: informal waste picking sector in India has faced historical and ongoing issues related to caste. With lower caste being mostly associated with waste picking.
- Low and unstable income: The income generated from collecting and selling recyclable materials is often low and fluctuates based on market variations.
- Lack of social security: They are often excluded from social security benefits like healthcare, pensions, and unemployment insurance.
- Exploitation and discrimination: Informal waste pickers, particularly women and children, can be vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen and face discrimination and social stigma.
- Health Hazards and Vulnerabilities:
- Waste pickers operate without adequate safety equipment, exposing themselves to various health risks, including dermatological and respiratory issues.
- The physically demanding nature of waste picking, coupled with the absence of protective gear, increases the likelihood of injuries and long-term health implications.
- Irregular work hours:
- An individual waste picker collects between 60 kg to 90kg of waste a day in an eight to 10 hour span of time.
- Marginalization in the Private Sector Paradigm:
- Private sector participation in municipal solid waste management often prioritizes cost efficiency and mechanization over the welfare of waste pickers.
- Private actors’ preference for expensive machinery and competitive rates marginalizes informal waste pickers, pushing them into hazardous scavenging activities, such as rummaging through dumpsites.
- The Alliance of Indian Waste Pickers (AIW) 2023 report underscores how private sector involvement exacerbates waste pickers’ vulnerability and diminishes their rights over waste picking activities.
- Policy Challenges
- Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR) aims to improve plastic waste management by holding producers accountable.
- However, EPR implementation threatens informal waste pickers’ livelihoods by redirecting waste away from them.
- Guidelines and regulations overlook waste pickers’ inclusion and fail to prioritize their role in waste management.
Way Ahead
- Improved working conditions: Providing access to protective gear, sanitation facilities, and healthcare services.
- Formalization and social security: Integrating informal waste pickers into the formal waste management system and providing them with social security benefits.
- Skilling and capacity building: Equipping them with skills and knowledge to enhance their income generation and work safety.
- Recognition and inclusion: Recognizing their role in waste management and involving them in policy decisions.
Conclusion
There is urgent need for policy reforms and social inclusion to uplift informal waste pickers and enhance waste management systems. Recognizing the invaluable role of waste pickers is essential for effective waste management. Revising EPR norms and ensuring the inclusion of waste pickers in legal frameworks is critical for a just transition in waste management.
Related Topics
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- EPR is a policy approach that places the responsibility for the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle on the producers, importers, and brand owners.
- This means these entities are financially and/or physically responsible for ensuring the environmentally sound collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of their products once they become waste.
- EPR aims to shift the burden of waste management away from municipalities and towards those who introduce products into the market.
India’s EPR framework is primarily governed by the following legislations
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Addresses plastic waste, including carry bags, multi-layered plastics, and other forms.
- E-Waste Management Rules, 2016: Specifically focused on electronic waste.
- Producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) of plastic, e-waste, and batteries are required to register on government-designated portals and obtain EPR targets. These targets mandate the amount of waste they must collect and recycle.
- Waste Collection & Channelization:
- PIBOs can work individually to establish take-back systems and collection mechanisms.
- Partner with Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) who specialize in waste collection and recycling.
References
Practice Question
Discuss the challenges faced by informal waste pickers in the waste management ecosystem, highlighting their marginalized status and the systemic issues contributing to their vulnerability. [250 words]
How to approach this question?
Introduction:
- Start by defining who informal waste pickers are and their role in the waste management ecosystem.
- Briefly mention their marginalized status and the systemic issues contributing to their vulnerability.
Body:
- Challenges Faced by Informal Waste Pickers: Discuss the various challenges faced by informal waste pickers such as health risks, lack of social security, stigma, and discrimination.
- Marginalized Status: Highlight how these challenges contribute to their marginalized status. Discuss the lack of recognition of their work, absence of legal rights, and their invisibility in formal waste management policies.
- Systemic Issues: Discuss the systemic issues contributing to their vulnerability such as poverty, lack of education, and the informal nature of their work. Also, discuss how these issues prevent them from moving out of this occupation and trap them in a cycle of poverty and marginalization.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the main points discussed in the body of the answer.
- Discuss the need for inclusive policies that recognize the contribution of informal waste pickers and provide them with legal rights and social security.
- Conclude by emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues for achieving sustainable waste management and social equity.
Remember to provide a balanced answer, incorporating relevant facts and figures, and propose feasible solutions. Structure your answer well, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, ensure that your answer is within the word limit specified for the exam. Good luck!