Waste workers and waste pickers have been at the frontline, providing essential services all through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their work, which requires them to move around the community collecting recyclables and other waste from households and businesses — often without adequate protective gear — puts them at at high risk to get the virus and spread it to their families.
GAIA Asia Pacific, with support from the Plastic Solutions Fund — along with coalition members in the region and their collaborators for the Zero Waste Cities Project — has set up a fund to provide support to these dedicated waste workers in their partner cities.
Specific objectives of project:
- Provide protective gear and items such as face masks, gloves, alcohol and soap, to at least 300 to 500 waste workers and pickers
- Distribute relief packs and care kits to the waste workers’ families to include provision of food items such as rice /wheat, biscuits, canned goods, and fruits and vegetables.
