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First world conference of Waste Pickers
By Chris Bonner, Wiego Organisation and Representation Programme
Waste pickers in Bogota, Colombia, hosted a remarkable event at the beginning of March this year (1-4 March 2008). From 34 countries across the globe, more than 250 representatives of waste picker organisations, supportive NGOs, development agencies, governments and private enterprises converged on the city. They were there for a a three-in-one event: to attend the First World Conference of Waste Pickers and Third Latin American Conference of Waste Pickers, and to commemorate the National Day of the Waste Picker in Colombia on March 1st. WIEGO initiated the idea of a world conference, made the linkages between waste pickers in different countries, raised funds and was a key player in the international steering committee that organised the conference.
On the first day, more than 300 local waste pickers joined conference delegates for the commemoration. Speakers shared experiences of the struggles and achievements of Colombian waste pickers and gave an overview of the situation of waste pickers across the world.
On the second day, participants from different countries chose to attend one of five parallel thematic sessions where they shared their experiences about key issues for waste pickers such as organising, privatisation/technological change and public policies. The third day focused on networking and the way forward. It started with a presentation on a local network of cooperatives in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Catasampa) followed by a global network example, StreetNet International. Both provided useful ideas about the difficulties and advantages of linking up organisations into networks. Afterwards participants worked in regional groups. During this time Latin American waste pickers held their Third Conference. They expanded the number of member countries in the Network from five to eleven, based on a commitment to a regional action plan. A representative from each of the countrieswas elected. They also chose a new secretariat, which is now based at the Brazilian National Movement of Waste Pickers.
The Conference adopted a global Declaration, jointly prepared by representatives from each continent. The Declaration promotes the social and financial inclusion of waste-pickers in solid waste management systems; it rejects incineration and burial-based processing technol-ogies and defends systems that support the popular econo-my; it commits to maintain contact among waste-pickers from around the world and proposes reviewing laws and public policies with waste pickers being included in decision making.
Day Four was one of real live experiences. Participants visited local cooperatives to see successful organisationin action. They also had an opportunity to visit the Bogota Association of Waste Pickers or the National Association of Waste Pickers to learn about their struggles and how their organisations work.
The Conference was serious but also filled with fun and entertainment. Colombian cultural groups provided musical interludes and participants frequently broke into song. The song of the Brazilian Catadores Movement became the most popular song of the Conference. There was also a great photo exhibition showing waste pickers from different countries and featuring their history.
For waste pickers, the Conference represented a big step forward in their struggle for recognition, rights and dignity. It consolidated the organisation of waste pickers across Latin America and united them around a common action programme. It built strong links across continents and provided the basis for ongoing exchanges and networking. It also facilitated learning and sharing of experiences by waste pickers from different countries, and between waste pickers and other players. Their siutation was highlighted and gathered support from a wide audience of different stakeholders. It showed that waste pickers are capable, organised, responsible and not a "bunch of thieves" as they are so often described.
What is the way forward? Noting that the level of organisation in different countries is very uneven, and often almost non-existent, the time is not yet right to set up a formal global network of waste pickers. The priority task is to build and strengthen base organisations and national and regional networks, and to maintain links and regular communication across the world. The International Conference Steering Committee will be initially the vehicle to maintain contact and to develop a programme to which waste picker organisations and their allies will contribute.
Visit the web site, www.recicladores.net for reports and presentations. See photographs and listen to the song of the Catadores Movement.
Go out and find out about waste pickers and waste picker organisations in your cities. Write to us about what you have found. We would like to be in touch with as many organisations as possible to help build an international movement of waste pickers.