Skip to content
Man getting an injection from a doctor

Help waste workers out of poverty and into good health

The issue

Informal waste pickers and their communities in Africa face marginalisation, suffering and large-scale disadvantage. They often work in poor conditions that put their health at risk without being paid a fair wage for the important job they do.

What can we do about it?

Mr. Green Africa has found a solution that gives waste pickers a higher income and a recognised role in society. By offering fair and stable prices for the waste they collect, this helps to create pathways out of poverty for them.

The recyclable waste they collect is processed into valuable raw material and fed back into plastic manufacturers’ supply chains – enabling them to achieve their circular economy goals and creating a positive environmental impact.

Waste workers typically work in high-risk environments and have very limited access to healthcare, so the programme also provides comprehensive health checks by highly qualified clinical staff. You can help support a waste worker by donating the cost of a health check now.

Similar ways to take action (16 items)

More from Unilever

3D rendering of piles of plastic bottles and packaging lying on the sea bed.

Are we on the brink of a landmark plastics treaty?

Negotiations on a UN treaty to end plastic pollution are entering their fifth and final planned stage next week at INC-5 in South Korea. Read why these talks offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity and what businesses are calling for.

Back to top