The Struggle at Jammu’s Landfills
In Jammu, India, a stench of burning waste pervades the air from a local dumpsite, a blend of various refuse from the nearby urban population of approximately 740,000. Despite the overwhelming heat and hazardous smoke, a few individuals, known as waste pickers, brave these conditions daily. They sift through the debris, hoping to find sellable materials to make a meager living of up to $4 a day. “If we don’t do this job, we starve,” explained 65-year-old Usmaan Shekh, who works despite the extreme conditions.
Shekh, along with his family, is part of the large group estimated between 1.5 and 4 million individuals across India who depend on scavenging waste for survival. The rising temperatures, reaching over 43 degrees Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) this summer in the Himalayan foothills where Jammu is located, are exacerbating the already perilous nature of their work. Tragically, recent heatwaves have claimed the lives of individuals including a garbage picker.
The decomposition of waste in landfills generates dangerous gases like methane and carbon dioxide, particularly during the hotter months, which can lead to spontaneous landfill fires that may burn for extended periods. On a visit by Associated Press journalists, small fires were observed across the expansive heaps of waste at the Jammu landfill, with workers and even children navigating through the hazardous environment.
India’s Waste Management Crisis
India produces at least 62 million tons of waste annually, with some of its landfills towering like mountains of refuse, such as those outside New Delhi. Despite a 2016 law that requires waste segregation to prevent hazardous materials from reaching these sites, enforcement has been lax. This negligence poses a significant risk to waste pickers who often handle dangerous items with bare hands, risking contamination from materials as varied as diapers to medical syringes, noted Bharati Chaturvedi, founder of Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group.
Chaturvedi, who has over two decades of experience working with waste pickers, highlighted that the extreme heat adds severe risks to these already vulnerable workers, who face not only physical dangers but also social discrimination and dreadful working conditions. “This year’s heat has been catastrophically severe, and it’s distressing to see the impoverished struggling to merely survive through the season,” she remarked.
Experts in heat planning and public health warn that outdoor workers like waste pickers are at great risk of heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke, cardiovascular, and chronic kidney diseases. “Waste pickers are among those most susceptible and exposed to extreme heat conditions,” said Abhiyant Tiwari, who leads the climate resilience team at the Natural Resources Defense Council’s India program.
In response to the intense heat, some waste pickers in New Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill have reduced their meals from two a day to just one, according to Ruksana Begum, a 41-year-old worker. “Many are avoiding work during peak heat to prevent even greater expenses on medical care,” she explained.
Both Tiwari and Chaturvedi emphasize the necessity of providing waste pickers with access to regular water supplies, shaded areas, or cool buildings near work sites. Additionally, they should be encouraged to limit their exposure during peak heat times and receive immediate medical attention when needed.
Tiwari acknowledged that while India has made strides in developing heat action plans, implementing these effectively across the country remains a challenge. “As a community, we must protect these individuals,” he stressed, suggesting simple acts of kindness like offering water can make a big difference.
Geeta Devi, another waste picker at the Bhalswa landfill, shared her coping strategy: “When the heat makes me dizzy, I find shade and occasionally, someone will offer me water or food. But I have no choice but to continue working to earn enough to feed my children,” she stated, emphasizing the harsh realities faced due to the climate.
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Morgan Ellis is an investigative journalist passionate about environmental policy and corporate accountability. With a background in climate science and years of reporting for nonprofit media, Morgan brings depth, clarity, and purpose to every story.
