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March 2008: The 1st International Recyclers Conference in Bogota, Columbia

In early March 2008 the 3rd Latin American and the 1st World Conference of recyclers was hosted by the National Association of Recyclers of Colombia (ANR) in Bogotá. The conference was organized by an international committee of organizations from the recyclers in India (KKPKP), Latin America (Network of Recycling Workers), the Global Network, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), besides researchers from different countries. 290 recyclers participated in that conference, bringing experiences from 43 countries, including South Africa, Cameroon, India, Nepal, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Turkey and several countries in Latin America. In addition approximately 50 experts in waste management, from universities to recycling business and international aid organizations were also present. CBRL director Dr Jutta Gutberlet and PSWM project committee member Fabio Luiz Cardozo were on-hand to represent the work of the Brazilian-Canadian partnership.

Bringing together movements from different parts of the word is a first step towards creating a Global Network of formal and informal recyclers. Among the principal objectives of the conference were: strengthening the organization and global connection of informal and organized recyclers (especially women) aiming at making their environmental and solid waste management contribution more visible. The major topics debated at the conference were: 1) the Recycling production chain and the role of informal recyclers 2) public policies for inclusive and integrated solid waste management 3) risks of privatization for the work of informal recyclers 4) international agreements (e.g. the Kyoto Protocol and carbon credits), among others.

The guiding theme during the recyclers’ conference was: El catador organizado jamas sera pisado).  The lack of organization is one of the strongest indicators for poverty. Through organization the individual is transformed into a social actor and has the capacity to act. Patrick Mwanzia of Kenya sees two key obstacles: "Firstly, waste pickers in Kenya lack exposure to experiences elsewhere. And secondly they need facilitation: at the moment, they have no power to communicate, and to have someone to bring them together is rare. So my first role when I go back is to work [to create] a local network of waste pickers".

Two central themes became manifest. First the widespread harassment recyclers suffer and the stigma they carry for dealing with waste; and second the realization that with organization these situations can be surmounted.

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