Celebrating our Waste Picking Heroes ????

The beginning of the March celebrated International Waste Pickers Day, a day that recognises the crucial work carried out by frontline workers who clean up and dispose of waste.

It serves to remember 11 waste pickers who were sadly murdered in Columbia in 1992, whilst promoting the rights of all the waste pickers today who make such a big difference in our society.

Waste Pickers (aka. Plastic Collectors or Resource Recovery Agents) form the foundations of waste management systems, collecting rubbish so it can be disposed of safely and sustainably. They feed the recycling chain, so recycling organisations can function!

And as the bedrock of the work we carry out at Eco Brixs, we therefore wanted to use this newsletter to celebrate the amazing work of our 4,600+ Waste Pickers who help us recycle over 100 tonnes of plastic every month. With no formal waste management system in Uganda, they provide a vital role and help to ensure plastic isn’t burnt, buried or dumped as a method of disposal. Ultimately, they protect people’s health and the environment.

Without them, we wouldn’t have a recycling system in Uganda. That’s why we’re constantly working and campaigning to ensure that waste pickers have safe working conditions, fair pay and recognition for the vital work they carry out. ??

Therefore, we wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone in the community who helps us collect and recycle plastic ????

Help create more waste picking opportunities in Uganda ??

PELEPETWA’S STORY: 'IT STARTS WITH YOU'

Tunomugisha Pelepetwa has been collecting plastic with Eco Brixs for over 2 years and runs a Recycling Hub between Lytonde and Masaka, approximately 100km from Eco Brixs’ Recycling Factory.

She manages a busy site where local people bring her plastic, which she weighs and pays the community for. She then sells the ‘bulk’ plastic to Eco Brixs at the end of the month so it can be recycled.

Pelepetwa’s journey started with one plastic bottle and gentle nudge by the Reverend, and now at 60 years old she’s empowering her community to recycle plastic, creating work for her neighbours, and acting as a central figure in the community.

You can read her full story here.?

Read how Pelepetwa is recycling and creating jobs ??

WORKING WITH WASTE PICKERS TO CREATE IMPACT: