Living on the Edge: The Hidden Cost of Plastic Pollution on Waste Pickers in Kenya

After attending Greenpeace Africa’s documentary screening of “Dumped: A Waste Picker’s Story”, I was deeply moved and disturbed by the stories shared. The film shined a powerful light on the often-ignored community of waste pickers, individuals who dedicate their lives to managing our waste, yet pay the highest price for it. I decided to share what I learned about the devastating effects of plastic pollution on waste pickers, especially in places like the Dandora dumpsite in Nairobi, both in terms of health and economic hardship.

Dandora Dumpsite: A Toxic Worksite

Located in the eastern part of Nairobi, Dandora dumpsite is one of the largest open landfills in Africa. Officially declared full in the early 2000s, it still receives tons of waste daily, much of it plastic. For over 6,000 waste pickers, this site is both a workplace and, in many cases, a home. They spend hours each day sorting through garbage, often without protective gear, trying to find recyclable materials they can sell.

But beneath this backbreaking work lies a web of health dangers and economic injustice,all worsened by the growing plastic pollution crisis.

Health Impacts: The Silent Killer

Plastic pollution does not just damage the environment; it directly harms human bodies. Waste pickers are exposed to this harm daily:

• Respiratory Illnesses

Plastics that cannot be recycled are often burned at Dandora, releasing toxic gases like dioxins and furans. Waste pickers, especially children inhale these harmful fumes, leading to chronic asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases. Many report coughing blood or struggling with breathlessness, but cannot afford proper healthcare.

• Skin Diseases and Cancers

Daily contact with hazardous plastic waste, including contaminated medical and industrial plastics, exposes waste pickers to dangerous chemicals. Many suffer from itchy rashes, burns, and even skin cancer, worsened by poor hygiene facilities and lack of clean water.

• Contaminated Food Chain

Toxins released from plastics seep into the soil and water sources. Local vegetables and fish from nearby rivers are contaminated, entering the food chain and affecting entire communities. Waste pickers, who often rely on nearby water and food sources, are directly affected.

• Microplastics and Reduced IQ in Children

Children growing up in or near dumpsites like Dandora are particularly vulnerable. Ingesting or breathing in microplastics (tiny plastic particles) has been linked to neurological damage and reduced IQ. This silent exposure may lead to long-term cognitive issues and reduced learning ability.

• Reproductive Health and Hormonal Issues

Plastic pollution doesn’t just affect the lungs and skin. Chemicals like BPA and phthalates, commonly found in plastics, are endocrine disruptors. Women waste pickers have reported hormonal imbalances, irregular menstrual cycles, and even miscarriages. Many women at Dandora fear they may never have children due to years of toxic exposure.

Economic Exploitation: Working Hard, Earning Little

Despite the immense contribution waste pickers make to the circular economy by recycling plastics and reducing environmental damage, they face economic exploitation on many levels.

• Poor Pay

Most waste pickers at Dandora earn less than 300 Kenyan Shillings ($2) a day. They are paid per kilo of recyclable plastic, but the rates are shockingly low. Their incomes are unstable, often depending on the type of waste available and the buyers’ prices.

• No Legal Protections

Because their work is informal, waste pickers do not have employment contracts, health insurance, or access to pensions. Injuries on the job, including cuts from sharp plastics or infections, are common but there is no compensation or safety net.

• Social Stigma

Waste picking is often seen as dirty or shameful work. This stigma isolates waste pickers from broader society, making it even harder for them to advocate for their rights or access public services like healthcare and education.

The Power of Documentary Storytelling

Greenpeace Africa’s documentary “Dumped” humanizes the waste pickers’ stories. It brings the voices of women, men, and children living on the frontlines of plastic pollution to the forefront. These are not just victims—they are environmental heroes, demanding justice and respect for their work and lives.

One powerful moment in the film shows a woman waste picker breaking down as she shares how she lost two pregnancies, blaming the toxic fumes and daily stress. Another scene follows a young boy with asthma, helping his mother sort plastics so they can eat.

These stories are real. They are urgent. And they demand action: What Can Be Done?

If we are serious about solving plastic pollution, we must include and uplift the voices of waste pickers. Here’s what needs to happen:

• Recognition: Waste pickers must be recognized as workers and protected under labor laws.

• Protection: Provide access to protective gear, clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.

• Pay Equity: Ensure fair compensation for their contribution to recycling.

• Plastic Reduction: Support global efforts like the Global Plastics Treaty to reduce plastic production and shift toward sustainable packaging.

• Public Support: Educators, students, and communities can raise awareness, support waste picker cooperatives, and advocate for policy change.

A Call for Justice

Plastic pollution is more than an environmental issue, it’s a human rights issue. Waste pickers at Dandora and beyond are paying with their health, their futures, and their lives so that the rest of the world can live in cleaner cities.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sN-ct36aTY

It’s time we move from awareness to action. Let us support these unsung heroes and demand systems that protect both people and the planet.

Together, we can turn trash into dignity, and plastic into justice.

“Only we humans make waste that nature can’t digest.” – Captain Charles J Moore