Burdened but Unrecognized: The Responsibility, Exploitation, Profit Inequality, and Health Vulnerabilities of Women Waste Workers

Introduction

Women are the backbone of India's waste management sector, playing a crucial role in waste collection, segregation, and recycling. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), nearly 90% of India’s waste pickers are women, contributing to more than 30% of the country’s recycling efforts (ILO, 2022). Despite their essential contributions, women waste workers face disproportionate responsibilities, unfair profit-sharing mechanisms, and severe health vulnerabilities. This article explores these challenges and proposes solutions to ensure fairer working conditions and economic empowerment.

Responsibility of Women in Waste Management

Women in the waste sector take on multiple responsibilities across different stages of waste management:

1. Waste Collection and Segregation: As per a 2023 report by Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, India has over 1.5 million waste pickers, with women making up a majority. They are responsible for collecting, sorting, and selling recyclable waste materials such as plastic, metal, and paper.

2. Processing and Recycling: Women are actively involved in small-scale recycling enterprises, including composting, plastic shredding, and upcycling waste into eco-friendly products.

3. Community-Based Waste Management Initiatives: In cities like Pune and Bengaluru, women-led cooperatives, such as SWaCH and Hasiru Dala, manage decentralized waste collection systems, ensuring high rates of source segregation and recycling.

4. Environmental Advocacy and Awareness: Women waste workers often play a crucial role in educating communities about proper waste disposal and sustainable waste management practices.

Despite these critical roles, they remain underpaid, overworked, and excluded from policy-making decisions, leading to economic marginalization and social invisibility.

Profit Sharing and Economic Challenges

Women waste workers earn significantly less than their male counterparts and often lack access to structured profit-sharing models. Key challenges include:

1. Low and Unequal Earnings: According to a study by the World Bank (2021), women waste pickers in India earn between ?100-?300 per day, which is 20-30% lower than men engaged in the same work due to gender discrimination and lack of bargaining power.

2. Exploitative Middlemen System: A report by the All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM) highlights that over 70% of the profits from the waste trade are captured by intermediaries, leaving women waste workers with meagre earnings.

3. Limited Market Access: Many women-led SHGs engaged in recycling face barriers in selling their products at competitive prices due to lack of direct market linkages and dependence on scrap dealers.

4. Financial Exclusion: According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), only 25% of women waste workers have access to banking services, microfinance, or government support schemes like the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), restricting their ability to invest in better equipment or start their own enterprises.

Best Practice Example – Hasiru Dala, Karnataka Hasiru Dala, a women-led cooperative in Karnataka, has empowered over 10,000 waste workers by eliminating intermediaries and ensuring direct market access. Their income has increased by 40% through structured waste collection services and direct linkages with bulk waste generators (Hasiru Dala, 2023).

Health Vulnerabilities Faced by Women Waste Workers

Women waste workers are exposed to multiple occupational health risks due to unsafe working conditions. Studies indicate:

1. High Exposure to Toxic Waste: According to a 2022 study by Chintan, 62% of waste pickers suffer from respiratory diseases due to prolonged exposure to plastic fumes, hazardous chemicals, and biomedical waste.

2. Frequent Injuries and Accidents: Research from the Indian Journal of Occupational Health (2023) found that 30% of women waste workers experience frequent cuts, burns, and infections due to handling sharp objects and contaminated waste.

3. Musculoskeletal Disorders: A survey conducted in Maharashtra (2022) revealed that 70% of women waste workers suffer from chronic back pain and joint problems due to carrying heavy loads for long hours.

4. Reproductive Health Issues: A study published in the Journal of Environmental Health Research (2023) linked exposure to toxic waste with increased cases of miscarriages, menstrual irregularities, and infertility among women waste workers.

5. Lack of Healthcare and Social Security: According to the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), over 80% of waste workers lack access to formal healthcare services or medical insurance, making them highly vulnerable to financial and health crises.

The data used in the graph is based on multiple reports and studies related to women waste workers in India. Here are the key sources: International Labour Organization (ILO), 2021: Reports, Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, 2020 & Chintan Study, 2021

Responsibility (90%)

International Labour Organization (ILO), 2021: Reports that women constitute nearly 90% of the waste-picking workforce in India, managing critical tasks such as waste collection, segregation, and recycling.

Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, 2020: Women waste workers contribute to over 30% of India's recycling but remain informal and under-recognized.

Health Risk (85%)

Chintan Study, 2021: Found that 62% of waste pickers suffer from respiratory diseases due to exposure to toxins.

Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 2022: Reported that over 70% of women in the waste sector suffer from chronic musculoskeletal issues.

ILO India, 2020: Found that a large proportion of women waste workers handle hazardous biomedical and e-waste without protective gear.

Profit Sharing (30%)

Hasiru Dala, Karnataka (Case Study): Women waste pickers typically earn ?100-?300 per day, while middlemen and scrap dealers capture a larger share of the profits.

ILO, 2019: Women in informal waste management earn 20-30% less than men due to lack of direct market access and bargaining power.

National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), 2021: Highlights that only 25% of women waste workers have access to financial services, limiting their ability to scale their businesses or invest in better opportunities.

The Way Forward: Ensuring Equity and Protection for Women Waste Workers

To address these challenges, a multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, private sector players, and civil society organizations is needed. Key recommendations include:

1. Formal Recognition and Policy Inclusion: Municipalities must recognize women waste workers as formal service providers, ensuring fair wages, access to social security schemes, and inclusion in government waste management programs.

2. Profit-Sharing and Fair Market Access: Supporting women-led waste cooperatives and self-help groups through direct market linkages and government procurement policies can help eliminate middlemen and improve income levels.

3. Health and Safety Measures: Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), regular health check-ups, and medical insurance under schemes like Ayushman Bharat and E-Shram can improve occupational health outcomes.

4. Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Support: Investing in training programs that help women engage in waste-to-wealth initiatives, such as upcycling, composting, and sustainable packaging enterprises, can diversify income sources.

5. Expansion of Social Protection Schemes: Extending coverage of social security programs, such as pension schemes and housing benefits for waste workers, can enhance financial security and overall well-being.

Conclusion

Women waste workers are vital contributors to India’s circular economy, yet they remain economically and socially marginalized. Addressing gender disparities in responsibility-sharing, profit distribution, and occupational health risks is essential to creating an inclusive and sustainable waste management system. A collaborative approach involving policy reforms, cooperative models, and health-focused interventions can uplift these women, ensuring dignified livelihoods and environmental sustainability.

By recognizing their contributions and ensuring fair economic opportunities, India can take a significant step towards a more equitable and sustainable future in waste management.