The International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) is participating in the upcoming Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) meeting to prepare a legal instrument to deal with plastic pollution. The INC-3 meeting is the third in a series of meetings to negotiate a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution.
In Nairobi, we will host an event(supporting partners – WIEGO, University of St Andrews, UNICATADORES, and the generous hospitality of the Embassy of Brazil in Nairoibi) – Uniting for Just Transition, where we will be celebrating a year of the constitution of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP), an essential milestone towards the formalisation of our organisation – affiliates of over 50 organisations from 34 countries and more than 460.000 members.
We want to present our IAWP position for a Just Transition for Waste Pickers under the UN Plastic Treaty, which outlines the essential steps that need to be taken to ensure that the transition of all workers, particularly waste pickers is ensured, leaving no one behind.
Event Location: The Embassy of Brazil in Nairobi
Event Date and Time: 15th November 2023, Wednesday, from 13:15-14:30. Address: 123 Gardenia Rd, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya (1.5 kilometres from UN Complex)
The IAWP position paper outlines the essential steps that need to be taken to ensure that the transition to a circular economy for plastics is fair and inclusive for all workers, particularly waste pickers. These steps include:
● Recognizing and formalising the role of waste pickers in the plastic waste management system.
● Providing social protection and decent work conditions for waste pickers. ● Investing in training and capacity building for waste pickers.
● Ensuring that waste pickers have a meaningful say in the design and implementation of plastic waste management policies and programs.
Waste pickers are essential to the global plastic waste management system. They collect and sort recyclable materials, which helps to reduce pollution and conserve resources. However, waste pickers often work in hazardous conditions and are denied basic labour rights.
“The International Alliance for Waste Pickers, advocates for just transition as a core obligation for implementation in the future UN Plastics Treaty, mandating genuine integration with legal recognition of waste pickers’ work, who have been recycling most plastic worldwide for decades”, said Lucia, Acting General Secretary of the IAWP, “along with the incorporation of all workers who will be affected by the transition away from avoidable and single use plastic production.”
Apart from organising the event, the IAWP will also be presenting its position on the zero draft of the global plastic treaty.
Additionally, our delegation will be presenting waste pickers perspective on the ongoing negotiations in different side events organised by UNEP, member states and other relevant stakeholders in United Nations Complex, Gigiri, Nairobi:
1. VOICES: Empowering waste workers on the path to a just transition a. Event title: Empowering waste workers on the path to a just transition – Real-life stories and expert perspectives on turning words into action
b. Date: 14 November
c. Time:7 – 9 pm EAT
2. Circular Economy
a. Event Title: Promoting circular economy to retain plastics in the economy and out of the environment, including innovation and expanding the share of circular plastics
b. Date : 16 November
c. Time: 1pm
3. Transition to circular economy
a. Event title : Socio-economic considerations in the transition to circular approaches to plastic, including human rights approaches and inclusion of the informal waste sector
b. Date : 17 November
c. Time: 1pm
The side events will have participation of member states, environmental, labour and civil society organisations, think tanks and representatives of the business coalition. As the negotiations proceed, we will be participating in more events and plenaries, to be updated on the website.
Check our website for all the details about our participation at INC-3. The website will be updated daily to include the details of the position presented by IAWP during these negotiations.
Why the Media Should Cover This
Waste pickers are among the most marginalised workers within the plastics value chain. They are often excluded and stigmatised due to their identities and nature of their work. However, waste pickers play an essential role in the global plastic waste management system and account for up to 85 percent of recycling chain workers, globally. They collect and sort recyclable plastic materials, which helps to reduce pollution and conserve resources.The plastics treaty can set standards that will improve work conditions in the materials management sector, but if not designed to ensure a just transition, it could alternately disrupt the sector in ways that harm waste picker livelihoods.
The media can play an important role in highlighting the voices of waste pickers and advocating for their rights. By covering the IAWP’s presentation at the INC-3 meeting, the media can help to raise awareness of the challenges faced by waste pickers and the need for a just transition to a circular economy for plastics.
This media release is for journalists worldwide to amplify important discussions happening on the Global Plastic Treaty at the United Nations Environment Programme.
