The International Alliance of Waste Pickers Executive Council (ExCo) Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, marked a significant moment of global coordination, political reflection, and strategic planning for the international waste picker movement.
Bringing together waste picker leaders and representatives from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America, the meeting created an important space to collectively assess current challenges, strengthen international solidarity, and define priorities for the coming years.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in regional and subcommittee reporting sessions covering advocacy, communications, finance, worker education, and organisational development. These discussions allowed organisations from different parts of the world to exchange experiences, reflect on common struggles, and identify opportunities for stronger global coordination.
A key focus of the meeting was the growing pressure faced by waste picker communities globally, including privatisation processes, landfill closures, displacement, criminalisation, and shrinking access to recyclable materials. In this context, the ExCo Meeting served not only as an organisational gathering but also as a political space to collectively discuss how waste picker organisations can continue to strengthen their role in defending livelihoods, advancing environmental justice, and shaping inclusive waste management systems.
The agenda also included strategic reflection sessions on the identity of waste pickers and the role of local organisations in strengthening national and international advocacy agendas. These conversations highlighted the importance of maintaining worker-led organising at the centre of global policy discussions around climate, recycling, and circular economies.
One of the week’s major milestones was the launch of the new IAWP website at a special reception attended by allies, partners, and representatives from various institutions. Conceived as a strategic communications and advocacy platform, the website aims to amplify the voices of waste pickers globally while strengthening the visibility of affiliated organisations and their political work.
The meeting also included field visits organised in collaboration with Indonesian waste-picker organisations, creating opportunities for international delegates to exchange experiences directly with workers and organisers on the ground.
At a moment when global debates on waste, climate, labour, and urban development are accelerating, the IAWP ExCo Meeting in Jakarta reaffirmed the importance of international organising and collective leadership among waste pickers worldwide.
