[Reader-list] Revised Solid Waste Management Rules Mandate Inclusion of Wastepickers!

[Kabir Khan]

Revised Solid Waste Management Rules Mandate Inclusion of Wastepickers!
<https://wastenarratives.com/2016/04/23/revised-solid-waste-management-rules-mandate-inclusion-of-wastepickers/>


The recently released Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 are a matter of
celebration. They acknowledge the contribution of wastepickers in keeping
our cities clean. Prescriptions are made for the inclusion of waste pickers
and informal waste workers (identified as informal waste collectors) in
waste management services. There are few flaws in the given document, those
need to be rectified while making policies and plans for solid waste
management at the state and city level as mandated by the rules.

*Clear mandate for inclusion of wastepickers in door to door collection and
other waste management services*

The rules define wastepickers and other informal waste collectors,
respectively as follows:

*“waste picker” means a person or groups of persons informally engaged in
collection and recovery of reusable and recyclable solid waste from the
source of waste generation the streets, bins, material recovery facilities,
processing and waste disposal facilities for sale to recyclers directly or
through intermediaries to earn their livelihood. *

*“informal waste collector” **includes individuals, associations or waste
traders who are involved in sorting, sale and purchase of recyclable
materials. *

As per our understanding of the waste economy hierarchy i.e. apart from
wastepickers; itinerant (*kabadiwallas*) buyers, scrap dealers etc. have
all been clubbed together in the definition of ‘informal waste collector’.
Such a measure is welcome as it is inclusive of all relevant vocations in
informal waste economy. Further, the rules propose issuance of occupational
identity cards to wastepickers and informal waste collectors and their
integration in door to collection as responsibility and duty of local
authorities and village panchayats, rules also command setting up of
material recovery facilities which enables wastepickers and waste
collectors to separate recyclables from the waste, and state that
incentives need to be provided to recycling initiatives by informal waste
recycling sector. Local bodies have been asked to do capacity building of
wastepickers and waste collectors through training. For the strengthened
implementation of rules, department in charge of local bodies of all state
governments have been asked to constitute state level advisory committees,
which will have representative of waste pickers and informal waste
recyclers.

It is worth mentioning that the representative of wastepickers: General
Secretary of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat- Harshad Barde was
included in the committee to finalize these rules. We are grateful to all
committee members including Harshad Barde for such a commendable job.

Continued here...
<https://wastenarratives.com/2016/04/23/revised-solid-waste-management-rules-mandate-inclusion-of-wastepickers/>

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