Scavengers or waste pickers, also known as Pemulung who collect recyclable materials such as plastic, metal, and paper from streets, garbage dumps, and landfills. They then sell these materials to recycling centers or middlemen for a small income.
Waste pickers play a crucial role in Indonesia’s waste management system by helping to reduce landfill waste and promoting recycling. However, they often work under harsh conditions and face social stigma despite their environmental contributions.
Many waste pickers come from low-income backgrounds and rely on scavenging as their primary source of livelihood.
Some waste pickers who do not have a three-wheeled wooden rickshaw to carry their collected items have to walk around the city searching for recyclable goods under the blazing hot sun.
The majority of them are elderly and rely on their work for daily sustenance.
Our support for these elderly waste pickers includes a bag containing 1 kilogram of rice, a bottle of mineral water, 2 boiled eggs, 2 packs of cookies, 2 pieces of fruit (oranges, bananas, or apples), 2 candies, and IDR 300,000 in cash (approximately USD 20).
We are committed to supporting more elderly waste pickers also known as Pemulung in Indonesia, through Bitkind and its generous donors, helping them lead a dignified life as they navigate their old age.