Kenya’s waste pickers have demanded recognition and a Just Transition in the global plastics treaty negotiations ahead of the second session of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on plastic pollution in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking in Nairobi recently, the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association Chairman, Brian Gisore Nyabuti, called on world leaders to ensure that the voices of those on the frontlines of plastic pollution are not ignored.
He has called for an ambitious and inclusive treaty that safeguards the rights, health, and livelihoods of waste pickers globally.
“I speak with urgency and resolve to demand an ambitious and inclusive global plastics treaty, one that centres the dignity, livelihoods, and rights of waste pickers through a just transition,” he stated.
Gisore emphasised that, in Kenya, waste pickers collect, sort, and recycle up to 60 per cent of plastics that would otherwise pollute the environment.
Further, he stated that despite their critical contribution, they continue to operate under hazardous conditions, often without protective gear, fair pay, or formal recognition.
“From the dumpsites of Dandora to the streets of Mombasa, our hands keep plastics out of the environment, yet we remain invisible in policy discussions. This must change,” he stated.
Gisore has called on the INC-5.2 delegates to ensure the treaty caps plastic production, eliminates toxic chemicals in plastics, supports a circular economy that prioritises reuse and recycling, and formally recognises waste pickers as integral players in plastic waste management.
He also demanded a just transition, including integration of waste pickers into formal waste management systems, access to decent wages, healthcare, and social protections, and funding through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for training, cooperatives, and insurance.
Additionally, he stated that rejecting market-driven solutions like plastic credits risks commodifying and exploiting their labour and emphasised the need for policies rooted in equity, environmental justice, and human dignity.
He urged the treaty negotiators to provide transparent and meaningful participation for waste pickers in both official discussions and side events, insisting that lived experience is vital to crafting effective, inclusive solutions.
“We are ready to partner with governments, industries, and civil society to build a world free from plastic pollution, but we cannot do it alone. Fund our work. Protect our rights. Include us in your plans,” he added.
