Dignity and Identity: Waste Pickers of Phnom Penh

In Phnom Penh, the vibrant capital of Cambodia, another reality exists in the shadow of economic growth. In the Dangkor district, a landfill spanning 31 hectares serves as the dumping ground for about 80% of the city’s daily waste output of 3,000 tons. Every day hundreds of people search this site for recyclable materials. Using only bare hands and simple tools, they sift through the city’s waste for plastic, metal, and glass, which they can sell for a few Cambodian riels. Garbage trucks deliver waste that bulldozers spread across large piles. Pickers sort recyclables on-site and store them in sacks made from old fertilizer bags. In the evening, they sell their findings to traders who weigh the materials and pay cash. Experienced workers earn only 8–10 US dollars per day, often insufficient to support a family. Most belong to the poorest segments of society, many having migrated from rural areas with limited education and no social security. Children frequently work at the landfill, sometimes instead of attending school. Around 400 people live nearby in basic huts without reliable access to water, electricity, or sanitation. Working conditions are hazardous, with exposure to toxic fumes, chemicals, and sharp objects leading to injuries and illness. Despite these hardships, the pickers take pride in their work, as it provides a degree of independence. In society, however, they remain stigmatized and largely unrecognized.