Its only new to you: why waste pickers must be involved in community-based Green Economy projects

One of the main challenges we have experienced since 2009 is that waste pickers are excluded from decisions that directly affect their livelihoods, despite being among the most experienced actors in the local recycling system. Many green economy policies and programmes — such as introducing formal recycling contractors, waste separation systems, youth-led initiatives or mechanised sorting facilities — are often planned without engaging the very people who have been doing this work informally for years. As a result, these initiatives risk displacing waste pickers, cutting off their access to recyclable materials, and removing their only source of income.

In addition, top-down approaches that overlook waste pickers’ insights often result in inefficient or poorly designed systems. Waste pickers have deep, on-the-ground knowledge of local waste flows, materials of value, and community behaviour around waste. By ignoring their input, green initiatives may fail to achieve their environmental goals or be rejected by the community. For example, residents may not sort waste properly, or recyclable materials might still end up in landfill because there is no inclusive system to recover them. Another example is the destruction of recycling facilities (IWAR) as part of community protests against the lack of formal action taken about illegal dumping in township areas. These projects were implemented without deep engagement.

Another significant issue is that these initiatives can deepen social and economic inequality. Waste pickers already face stigma, lack of legal protection, and unsafe working conditions. Rolling out green programs without including them often reinforces this marginalisation. Instead of benefiting from green job creation, waste pickers may find themselves pushed out in favour of youth-based projects that only exist for the funding opportunity, private contractors or technologies they can't compete with, all while continuing to live in poverty.

Lastly, failing to engage waste pickers undermines the principles of a just transition, which is about ensuring that all workers, especially vulnerable ones, are part of the shift to a green economy. Without meaningful inclusion, new environmental programs risk being seen as unfair or extractive, leading to resistance, tension, or even sabotage. For a truly sustainable and socially just green economy, waste pickers must not only be included — they should be seen as partners and leaders in shaping the future of waste and recycling systems.

Its only New Green jobs to you.