Waste Pickers Fight for Space and Dignity in Delhi's Recycling Sector

In October 2025, Delhi continues to struggle with its mounting waste crisis, even as the city's 1.5 lakh informal waste pickers play a crucial role in recycling an estimated 2,000 tonnes of paper, plastic, metals, and glass every day. However, these unsung heroes remain largely excluded from the formal recycling economy.

Seema, a 52-year-old waste picker near the Bhalswa landfill, laments that she can no longer access the dump site, where she once collected over 50 kg of recyclables daily. "They chase us away as if we are the ones polluting, not picking up waste," she says. As private concessionaires have taken over waste handling, many workers like Seema have been forced to return to low-paying factory jobs they had once left behind.

The situation is particularly dire for women waste pickers, who form the backbone of the sector. "They are considered less productive and lose jobs first. Elderly workers, too, are sidelined," says Mou Sengupta of the Centre for Science and Environment. Chintan's report estimates the life expectancy of waste pickers in India at just 39 years, far below the national average.

However, some waste pickers have found stability through collective action. Jharna Khatun, 33, the vice president of Safai Sena, now sells her recyclables directly at market price, earning ₹15,000 a month at the NDMC-Chintan Micro Material Recovery Facility. "We are looked down upon as poor and dirty. I want to give my children a better life and break this cycle," she asserts, calling for space and recognition for the waste picking community.