waste picker
Salvager of discards
A waste picker is someone who collects recyclable or reusable materials from garbage dumps, landfills, streets, or bins, typically selling what they find to recycling facilities or middlemen.
The term is used internationally, particularly in developing countries where informal waste picking provides income for millions of people.
Waste pickers recover valuable materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.
The work is often dangerous and poorly compensated, though waste picker cooperatives have organized in some regions to improve conditions and recognition.
- ragpickerCollector of discarded cloth
- scavengeGather from waste
- ragsTorn cloth pieces
- scrapDiscarded bit or tussle
- dump siteWaste disposal location
trash heap · reclaimer · marginalized · social stigma · recyclables · reuse · bag · dignity · salvager · circular economy · recycling · can · subsistence · making ends meet · poverty · junkyard · survival · sorting
- waste managementtrash, garbage, rubbish, refuse, litter
- recyclingrecycle, recycling, recycling bin, recycle bin, recycling bins
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- casual workersday laborer, casual worker, temp, temp worker, gig worker
- scavengersvulture, vultures, scavenger, hyena, hyenas
- sanitation jobssanitation worker, garbage collector, refuse collector, trash collector, rubbish collector
waste pickerconsumer
One who acquires goods
manufacturer · producer · purchaser · factory worker · product designer
waste pickerindustrialist
Major manufacturing business owner
corporate executive · CEO · tycoon · magnate · billionaire
waste, wasted, picking, picked, wasteful, wasting, picker, wasteland, wastebasket