New report says wastepicker livelihoods are threatened

From the newsletter

A Kenya–Denmark study warns that shifting to a circular economy could deepen inequality if wastepickers are excluded from policymaking. It urges their inclusion in decision-making and calls for targeted training, skills development and improved healthcare access to support their livelihoods amid major reforms in the waste sector.

• Though focused on Kenya’s Dandora dumpsite, the study highlights challenges faced by many thousand wastepickers across Africa who earn a living from waste while forming the backbone of waste management. 

• As waste management policies and the transition toward a circular economy take shape across the continent, new measures like segregation at source and extended producer responsibility (EPR) reduce valuables at dumpsites, threatening wastepickers’ livelihoods continent-wide.

More details

• The report, Wastepickers at the Dandora Dumpsite, was conducted by the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) on Circular Economy and Waste Management between Kenya and Denmark, in collaboration with the Nairobi Recyclable Waste Association. It is part of a three-phase decade-long project by the Danish government aimed at accelerating Kenya’s transformation to a circular economy.

• Findings show that most wastepickers at Dandora, one of Eastern Africa’s largest dumpsites, live in nearby settlements and are often single parents with multiple children. Despite working more than 10 hours a day in hazardous conditions, without protective gear or access to clean water, sanitation or healthcare, many earn barely enough to cover food, rent and school fees. Several face violence and sexual harassment at the dumpsite.

• With waste volumes decreasing due to policy shifts, economic uncertainty is growing. Wastepickers report taking on debt or skipping meals to survive. Less than half have received professional training and only a third belong to associations that could advocate for their rights or connect them to support services.

• Yet many possess untapped skills in areas such as electronics repair, tailoring and driving. The report finds that several wastepickers want to pursue vocational training or work in formal recycling facilities but lack access to resources or guidance. Their awareness of policy frameworks, such as Kenya’s new Sustainable Waste Management Act and EPR Regulations (2024),is also limited.

• The study urges governments and development partners to recognise wastepickers as key actors in the circular transition. Without deliberate efforts to include and upskill them, it warns that Africa’s waste reforms risk reinforcing inequality rather than alleviating it.

• Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) to present the report on June 4, Solomon Njoroge, chairman of the Nairobi Recyclable Waste Association, welcomed the findings, describing them as a “100% true” reflection of the reality waste pickers face.

• In a separate June 5 interview with Circular Rising, Mr. Njoroge called for “real, practical development” in waste pickers’ lives—especially at the individual level. He stressed the importance of financial independence and access to new skills.

• “Now that sorting at source is being enforced, we’re already seeing that most valuables are recovered before they reach the landfill,” he said. “So we need a just transition that creates alternative opportunities—new jobs that aren’t necessarily tied to waste, but are ready and accessible for waste pickers.”

• To ensure a just and inclusive transition, the report recommends a three-pronged strategy. Central to this is the urgent need for targeted training and skills development, including practical instruction on safe waste handling, entrepreneurship and vocational pathways that build on the informal skills many wastepickers already possess.

• Equally important is expanding access to healthcare and essential services. This includes mobile clinics, protective gear, clean water, sanitation and mental health support—all critical to improving working conditions and strengthening the resilience of wastepickers' livelihoods.

• At the policy level, the 36-page report calls for meaningful inclusion of wastepickers in decision-making processes. Their representation on county and national circular economy platforms, support in organising into formal associations and active participation in shaping the implementation of frameworks such as EPR and segregation at source are vital steps toward equity in the transition to circularity.

• In response to the report, the SSC intends to use the findings to inform activities in the final phase of the project (2025–2027). It is designing small-scale initiatives focusing on vocational training for wastepickers from the Dandora dumpsite and conducting multi-stakeholder workshops that bring together key actors involved in implementing new waste management policies. These workshops aim to facilitate meaningful discussions on mitigating potential negative social and economic impacts from the new regulatory frameworks.

• Although this study focuses on waste pickers in Kenya, its findings echo the challenges faced by informal waste workers across Africa. In cities like Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Dar es Salaam, these workers are responsible for most waste collection, sorting, and recycling, yet remain largely unrecognised by formal systems. They face precarious working conditions, lack social protections, and are often excluded from official waste management frameworks. 

Our take

• Inclusion is not optional—it’s central to building resilient circular systems. Without meaningful participation of wastepickers in policy and decision-making, Africa’s circular economy risks excluding those vital to its success.

• The report’s recommendations are clear and urgent and must be prioritised to enable wastepickers to thrive during the transition. Without these vital actions, the shift toward circularity risks leaving behind the very people who have sustained Africa’s recycling ecosystem for decades.

• Equity and sustainability go hand in hand in the circular economy. Recognising wastepickers as key stakeholders not only safeguards their livelihoods but also strengthens the entire waste management system.