What is it about?
Waste is a core urban challenge. Waste pickers in low- and medium-income countries work on dumps and landfills, sifting through highly contaminated household waste and are exposed to health hazards. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review on the key risk factors, hazards, and vulnerabilities informal waste pickers are exposed to during collection and separation of recyclable waste.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Household waste, although not always per se toxic or hazardous, can become a hazard if not collected or inadequately managed. Those communities where household waste is not collected or waste collection is insufficient are the most critical places. Informal and organized waste pickers, municipal or private waste collectors/workers, small waste traders and sometimes residents, particularly small children, are vulnerable if exposed to waste-borne hazards. The publication includes recommendations to address household waste-borne hazards and vulnerabilities, according to waste workers involved in this research.
Perspectives
Public policies prioritizing strategies for waste collection in neighbourhoods which have mostly been excluded from public waste management services are required, as well as adequate separation of recyclable materials in order to minimize health risks in low and middle income countries.
Dr. Jutta Gutberlet
UVic
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, June 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/10773525.2018.1484996.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
