Waste picker

A waste picker is a person who salvages reusable or recyclable materials thrown away by others to sell or for personal consumption.^[1] There are millions of waste pickers worldwide, predominantly in developing countries, but increasingly in post-industrial countries as well.^[2]

Various forms of waste picking have been practiced since antiquity, but modern traditions of waste picking took root during industrialization in the nineteenth century.^[3] Over the past half-century, waste picking has expanded vastly in the developing world due to urbanization, toxic colonialism and the global waste trade.^[4] Many cities only provide solid waste collection.^[5]

^ Srinivas, Hari. "Solid Waste Management: Glossary". The Global Development Research Center. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
^ Gowan, Teresa (1997). "American Untouchables: Homeless Scavengers in San Francisco's Underground Economy". International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. 17 (3/4): 159–190. doi:10.1108/eb013304.
^ Martin, Medina (2007). The World's Scavengers: Salvaging for Sustainable Consumption and Production. New York: Altamira Press.
^ Wilson, D. C., Velis, C., Cheeseman, C. (2005). Role of informal sector in recycling in waste management in developing countries. London: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Centre for Environmental control and Waste Management.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Scheinberg; Justine Anschütz (December 2007). "Slim pickin's: Supporting waste pickers in the ecological modernisation of urban waste management systems". International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development. 5 (3): 257–27. doi:10.1386/ijtm.5.3.257/1.

[Srinivas-1] Srinivas, Hari. "Solid Waste Management: Glossary". The Global Development Research Center. Retrieved 13 November 2011.

[American_Untouchables:_Homeless_Scavengers_in_San_Francisco's_Underground_Economy-2] Gowan, Teresa (1997). "American Untouchables: Homeless Scavengers in San Francisco's Underground Economy". International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. 17 (3/4): 159–190. doi:10.1108/eb013304.

[Medina_book-3] Martin, Medina (2007). The World's Scavengers: Salvaging for Sustainable Consumption and Production. New York: Altamira Press.

[Wilson-4] Wilson, D. C., Velis, C., Cheeseman, C. (2005). Role of informal sector in recycling in waste management in developing countries. London: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Centre for Environmental control and Waste Management.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] Scheinberg; Justine Anschütz (December 2007). "Slim pickin's: Supporting waste pickers in the ecological modernisation of urban waste management systems". International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development. 5 (3): 257–27. doi:10.1386/ijtm.5.3.257/1.

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