Usmaan Shekh : “India’s Garbage Pickers: Extreme Heat Dangers”

JAMMU, India (AP) — The pungent odor of burning garbage permeates the air for miles around the landfill on the outskirts of Jammu, creating a potentially toxic haze fueled by the plastics, industrial, medical, and other waste produced by the city’s 740,000 residents. Despite the noxious fumes and sweltering heat, a small group of waste pickers persist in sorting through the refuse, scavenging for items they can sell to earn a meager income of up to $4 a day.

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“If we don’t do this, we don’t get any food to eat,” explained 65-year-old Usmaan Shekh. “We try to take short breaks when it becomes too hot, but mostly we continue until we can’t anymore.”

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Shekh and his family are part of an estimated 1.5 to 4 million individuals in India who make a living by rummaging through waste, a job that has become increasingly perilous due to the impacts of climate change. In Jammu, a city in the northern region of India nestled in the Himalayan foothills, temperatures have soared above 43 degrees Celsius (about 110 Fahrenheit) this summer.

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Tragically, at least one person who perished during the recent heatwave in northern India was identified as a garbage picker.

The landfills themselves are teeming with internal heat as the garbage decomposes, with the rising summer temperatures accelerating and intensifying the process. This heightened decomposition releases hazardous gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, posing significant health risks to those working in close proximity. Landfill fires are a common occurrence in the summer months, burning for days on end.

During a visit by Associated Press journalists to the Jammu landfill, scattered fires dotted the immense pile of waste, emitting plumes of smoke into the sky. Amidst the scorching heat, two men dragged a tattered tarp brimming with garbage, while a young boy clutched a handful of plastic sandals. As other waste pickers sought intermittent respite from the heat, birds circled overhead, scavenging for their own sustenance.

India generates a staggering 62 million tons of waste annually, with some landfills resembling towering mountains of refuse, like the Ghaziabad landfill outside New Delhi. Despite a 2016 law mandating waste segregation to prevent hazardous materials from reaching landfills, enforcement has been lax, further endangering waste pickers.

“Since they primarily use their hands, they are already contaminated from handling a variety of items, from diapers to used syringes,” remarked Bharati Chaturvedi, the founder of the New Delhi-based Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group.

Chaturvedi, who has advocated for waste pickers for over two decades, highlighted the additional risks posed by extreme heat, compounding the existing challenges faced by these marginalized workers.

“It has been an extraordinarily challenging year,” she lamented. “They already anticipate suffering due to the heat, which generates considerable anxiety as they grapple with uncertainty about their survival through the summer.”

Protecting Vulnerable Workers

Heat planning and public health experts emphasize that individuals compelled to work outdoors are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of prolonged heat exposure. Heatstroke, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney diseases are among the health risks associated with working outdoors during extreme heat.

“Waste pickers are among the most vulnerable and highly exposed to heat,” stated Abhiyant Tiwari, who leads the climate resilience team at the Natural Resources Defense Council’s India program.

In New Delhi, waste pickers grappling with the city’s estimated 4.2 million tons of annual garbage have resorted to reducing their meals from two to one per day due to the scorching heat, as recounted by Ruksana Begum, a 41-year-old waste picker at the Bhalswa landfill.

“They are avoiding work due to the heat because they end up spending more on hospital bills than on food,” Begum revealed.

Tiwari and Chaturvedi underscored the imperative of providing waste pickers with access to a consistent water supply, shaded areas, or cooler structures near the landfills. Encouraging them to refrain from working during extreme heat and promptly administering medical assistance when needed are crucial measures to safeguard their well-being.

Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Support

Tiwari acknowledged India’s strides in formulating heat action plans but underscored the challenges in implementing these initiatives nationwide.

“As a society, we bear the responsibility to protect these individuals,” Tiwari asserted. Simple gestures such as offering water to waste pickers outside homes, rather than shooing them away, can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Geeta Devi, a 55-year-old waste picker at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, recounted her struggles in coping with the oppressive heat. When she experiences dizziness, she seeks shelter, occasionally receiving water or food from compassionate individuals. However, the necessity to earn 150-200 rupees ($1.80 to $2.40) per day to provide for her children compels her to endure the challenging conditions.

“The heat makes my job difficult, but I have no alternative employment,” Devi acknowledged.

Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123

Reported by Sibi Arasu from Bengaluru and Nagpal from New Delhi.

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