The first-ever Africa Regional Meeting of Waste Picker Leaders has kicked off in Accra, Ghana, bringing together more than 50 leaders from 17 affiliated organisations and three prospective affiliates across 11 countries.
Hosted by the Kpone Landfill Waste Pickers Association, the five-day meeting (September 9–13, 2025) responds to the long-standing call of African waste pickers for a dedicated space to strengthen organizing, deepen advocacy, and build unified strategies for recognition and policy inclusion.
Africa’s waste picker movement is among the world’s oldest, tracing back to the 1970s when the El Tatweer El Motagaded Association was established in Egypt.
Today, approximately 72,000 organized waste pickers across 11 countries are affiliated with the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP), and this gathering underscores their growing collective voice in global conversations around waste, climate, and the circular economy.
Speaking at the meeting, Divine Dekonor, Chairperson of the Waste Pickers Association in Ghana, stressed the urgent need for greater recognition and policy support for waste pickers who provide vital environmental services.
“The challenge we face globally is non-recognition and stigma. Society often does not respect the work of waste pickers, even though we provide essential services to communities. Without our work, you can imagine how our communities would look like,” said Mr. Dekonor .
Deono further highlighted the structural challenges that keep waste pickers marginalized, particularly their exclusion from pricing negotiations and waste management policies.
“Waste pickers are part of the value chain, but manufacturers determine the prices of materials we sell without our input. This exploitation makes life very difficult for us. We need more recognition and policies that protect our work, instead of criminalizing it,” he emphasized.
The Africa Regional Meeting includes plenary discussions, workshops, and strategy sessions focused on social protection, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), gender inclusivity, and organizational strengthening.
Leaders are also engaging in field visits to recycling cooperatives in Accra and building networks with philanthropic allies such as Avina Foundation and Tearfund.
With 13 women leaders actively participating, gender-inclusive organizing has been a key focus. Deono noted that in Ghana alone, their association includes 700 members, of which more than 400 are women, demonstrating the central role women play in waste picking.
“In a single day, each member is able to recover more than 70 kilos of recyclable materials. Multiply that by our numbers, and in a year, we contribute massively to the circular economy. We don’t depend on the government for jobs – we create jobs for ourselves. What we need is protection and recognition as essential service providers,” he stated.
The meeting also facilitates learning exchanges with waste picker leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, reinforcing IAWP’s global solidarity of over 460,000 waste pickers across 35 countries.
By centering worker voices and strengthening cross-regional collaboration, the Africa Regional Meeting marks a milestone in advancing recognition of waste pickers as essential environmental workers and vital contributors to Africa’s circular economy.
