Counting on People to Drive Waste Solutions
A new report has highlighted the critical role waste pickers play in addressing the growing global waste and climate crisis, while warning against overreliance on landfills and incineration as waste management solutions.
The article titled “Counting on People to Drive Waste Solutions,” written by Cecilia Allen, Global Zero Waste Cities Program Lead at GAIA, noted that landfills remain among the largest contributors to methane emissions worldwide. According to a recent study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the top 25 waste disposal sites globally emit between 3.6 and 7.5 tons of methane per hour.
Methane is considered one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases, trapping over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a short period. Environmental experts say the increasing emissions from landfills continue to worsen climate change and threaten public health.
The report stressed that waste disposal practices such as landfilling and incineration are not sustainable, citing concerns including air, water, and soil pollution, material wastage, and the burden placed on vulnerable communities where such facilities are often located.
Instead, the publication advocates for people-centered waste management approaches, particularly source separation, recycling, and composting. It emphasized that waste should be separated at the source because different materials require different handling methods for efficient recovery and reuse.
The report also praised waste pickers in developing countries for their contribution to recycling systems and environmental sustainability. According to the publication, waste pickers help reduce landfill waste, recover recyclable materials, and support millions of families economically.
Examples from India and Tanzania were highlighted as successful models. In Pune, India, the waste-picker cooperative SWaCH reportedly provides waste collection services to over 260,000 households, schools, and offices while managing organic waste through composting and anaerobic digestion systems.
Similarly, in Tanzania, waste-picker organizations such as Nipe Fagio and Wakusanya Taka Bonyokwa Cooperative have implemented effective source-separation and composting systems in Dar es Salaam, achieving high compliance rates within their communities.
The report called on governments and policymakers to recognize waste pickers as essential workers and to support inclusive waste management systems through better infrastructure, formal contracts, and investment in recycling and organic waste management programs.
Environmental advocates believe such approaches could significantly reduce methane emissions, improve urban sanitation, create jobs, and contribute to climate resilience efforts across the globe.