The plight of our women waste workers

Women waste workers lament the discrimination they face in their work, with people bashing them for taking a “dirty” job that is considered inappropriate for a woman. Ironically, most of them took the job because they perceive it as part of a woman’s duties to take care of the household, contribute to the family income, and volunteer in the community.

A study by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, Angat Bayi, The Incubation Network, and the University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies, indicates that people believe waste reduction, segregation, and recycling are part of a woman’s chores since they are perceived homemakers. They have also been assigned these responsibilities to be able to contribute to household income, and for them to take the lead in community initiatives related to waste management.

For example, Maria tells us that she volunteered to sweep the streets in her neighborhood “para makapaglaro nang maayos ang mga bata” (so that children can play safely). Sara, a waste picker for 10 years, says her family depends on her earnings. If she could not collect waste, she would have to find other sources of income which are harder to come by, such as taking in laundry. These responsibilities are given women due to their presumed qualities, such as being patient and organized.

The study also says that women are given the bigger share of responsibility in reducing plastic waste due to society’s assumptions that they consume more plastic. Since women are frequently tasked to clean the house, they use cleaning products packaged in plastic. They also use more personal products than men, including makeup.

Most women waste workers in the informal sector also suffer discrimination. They are expected to work on a voluntary basis without pay. Additionally, work becomes arduous for them when the wastes they collect are not segregated properly.

These factors show that women suffer a disproportionate burden in waste management compared to other members of the family and the community. Cases abound where housewives and mothers take on waste management roles despite the lack of institutional support to protect them.

This situation calls for a gender inclusive waste management system using a human rights-based approach that encourages all to participate in the work regardless of gender. Such approach considers the social, economic, and environmental layers when addressing waste, especially plastic leakage into nature. Everyone can be an advocate of this approach.

For policymakers, it means implementing waste management laws on gender equality which provide waste workers health care, protective gear, alternative livelihood options, and recognition. Our proposed provisions in the new laws include a local registry for all waste workers, formal or informal, for them to gain access to the equipment, insurance, and training opportunities they need.

Policies should also educate the public and inculcate a progressive mindset on gender. Environmental and plastic pollution awareness courses should be integrated in core school curricula and general information programs. These programs will educate more individuals on the importance of waste segregation and reusing, reducing, and recycling waste. These will help in slowly integrating with the mindset and lifestyle of individuals the ways in which they can be involved in reducing plastic pollution, regardless of their gender.

Communities should also hold communication campaigns that promote gender equality. The campaign should assure workers like Maria and Sara that they will be supported and protected, and that they don’t have to work alone.

WWF-Philippines’ campaign #LahatDapat underscores the importance of everyone’s equal participation in waste management. It calls for the public to change its perspective on waste management as a collective effort involving everyone. Our goal is to eliminate plastic waste leakage into nature by 2030, using methods that respect the human rights of every sector. It is not the sole responsibility of a single individual, gender, or group, but a shared commitment. Only through equal participation can our efforts become successful.

* * *

Czarina Constantino-Panopio is the manager of WWF-Philippines’ No Plastics in Nature program.