More wealth, more waste

The richer you are, particularly if you live in a city, the more waste and litter you create. The USA and Japan are among the countries that create the most waste, but they can afford to take care of it, so it is less visible on the streets than in poorer countries, which generate the very least waste. Waste collection systems are rare there and people throw their rubbish out on the streets. Disease is a common problem. But the situation could be even worse if not for the fact that one quarter of all the millions of tons of waste and litter created every day is collected by poor people who are garbage pickers.

Garbage pickers essential

Sidra in Pakistan is one of roughly 15 million people around the world who pick garbage in order to survive. She and Nisha, who comes from a brick-worker family, are both keen to be part of the No Litter Generation and take part in No Litter Day. They live in a country with no functioning waste management systems. People with money throw stuff away and the very poorest collect it, sort it and sell it or exchange it for things they need. Sidra’s family have been picking litter for generations and are experts at recycling and reuse. But it is a tough and hazardous job that pays very little money.

Successful protests

It is unfair that some people keep generating litter, while others must pick litter just because they are poor. Keeping things clean and taking care of litter is an important job. Children should not have to work at all, they should be going to school. Garbage pickers throughout the world have now begun protesting, as in the Indian city of Pune. And the politicians have actually listened! They have promised to pay the garbage pickers, mostly women, for their work. The women started up a cleaning company and now they have salaries, good working conditions and protective clothing. They work shorter hours, but are paid more. But the best thing is that their children have stopped picking litter and now go to school instead.

Helping one another

It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that people everywhere, especially children, get to live in a safe and healthy environment. We can help one another to pick litter and spread knowledge about the environment. But world leaders must also keep their promise: to fight to achieve the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and injustice and resolve the climate crisis. Then children like Nisha and Sidra will be able to choose for themselves what work they want to do when they grow up.