Understanding the Waste Picker Living Income Gap to Strengthen Circular Value Chains
Recorded January 22, 2026
Waste pickers are essential to global recycling systems and circular value chains, but their contributions remain largely undervalued. Many face persistent barriers to earning a living wage and achieving an adequate standard of living.
Join the Fair Circularity Initiative (FCI), Systemiq, and local NGO partners as we unveil global research that examines how earnings compare to local living income benchmarks across three types of waste pickers, multiple countries, and a mix of waste materials. Our findings show that waste pickers in nearly all locations earn below the estimated living income, leading to food and housing insecurity, and other human rights impacts.
Grounded by case studies from Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam, this session will outline key insights and recommendations for how companies can take action to close waste picker living income gaps and promote fair, inclusive circular economies.
Scheduled Speakers
—Charlene Collison, Director, Collaborations and Partnerships, BSR
—Jose de la Fuente, Materials and Circular Economy Expert, Systemiq
—Roger Koeppl, Green Franquias
—Laura Reyes, Executive Director, CEMPRE
—Astha Singh, Systemiq
—Nguyễn Thị Hoài Linh, ENDA
Waste pickers are essential to global recycling systems and circular value chains, but their contributions remain largely undervalued. Many face persistent barriers to earning a living wage and achieving an adequate standard of living.
Join the Fair Circularity Initiative (FCI), Systemiq, and local NGO partners as we unveil global research that examines how earnings compare to local living income benchmarks across three types of waste pickers, multiple countries, and a mix of waste materials. Our findings show that waste pickers in nearly all locations earn below the estimated living income, leading to food and housing insecurity, and other human rights impacts.
Grounded by case studies from Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam, this session will outline key insights and recommendations for how companies can take action to close waste picker living income gaps and promote fair, inclusive circular economies.
Scheduled Speakers
—Charlene Collison, Director, Collaborations and Partnerships, BSR
—Jose de la Fuente, Materials and Circular Economy Expert, Systemiq
—Roger Koeppl, Green Franquias
—Laura Reyes, Executive Director, CEMPRE
—Astha Singh, Systemiq
—Nguyễn Thị Hoài Linh, ENDA