The Political Ecology of Informal Waste Recyclers in India

Download or read book The Political Ecology of Informal Waste Recyclers in India written by Federico Demaria and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023-03-14 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sector of solid waste management in India falls entirely into the informal category, and despite the high number of people involved in it, there is very little statistical data available on the safety or hygiene standards in this sector. Calls for integrating recyclers of solid waste management into the formal sector have largely been ignored, causing hazardous working conditions, unequal and inadequate pay, and, in a broader sense, a less sustainable environment. In a study conducted during 2009-18, Federico Demaria finds the issue of waste management is more of a political one rather than an ecological one; and there are power relations, social and cultural predispositions, and economic drivers at play within it. He focusses on two emblematic case studies - ship-breaking in Alang, Gujarat, and solid waste management in New Delhi - to argue that the environment is a politicized and contested space, rendering its participants victims to exploitation and isolation. His case studies draw on theories in political ecology and environmental economics to create a critical understanding of the technical, social, and political underpinnings in solid waste management in India.