Globally, an estimated 20 million informal waste pickers are responsible for more than half of all plastic waste collected. Now, a 30-year fight for fair wages and legal protection has culminated in these workers' first international union. This video explores their essential role in how the world handles trash.
00:00 Intro 01:10 Landfill Pickers In Indonesia 10:37 Collecting Metal From Old Ships 22:18 The Children Working In Delhi's E-Waste Market 27:50 Earning A Living Off A Flaming Landfill 38:28 Hunting For Deadly Explosives In Afghanistan 47:56 The World's First International Waste Pickers Union 51:41 Credits