As the city of Lahore sleeps in the early hours of the morning, Muhammad Nadeem steps out with his bamboo broom and red cap, ready to begin his day. For the past decade, Nadeem has been collecting garbage door-to-door in the Johar Town area, sorting through waste to separate bottles, paper, and metal. His work is grueling and often dangerous, yet it plays a vital role in keeping the city clean and promoting recycling.
Nadeem’s hands bear the scars of his labor. “While digging through the trash, I’ve cut my hands many times,” he says. “We have to rummage through filth to separate recyclable materials, which often leaves us with wounds and infections.” Despite their critical contribution to urban cleanliness and environmental sustainability, Nadeem and his fellow garbage collectors remain unrecognized and underappreciated.
These workers sift through waste to extract plastic, paper, and other recyclable items, which are later repurposed into new products. For instance, plastic bottles are transformed into decorative pieces or planters, while old paper is recycled into cardboard. However, Pakistan’s recycling system lags behind that of developed nations, making the role of these informal waste pickers even more crucial.
After a long day of labor, Nadeem and others like him sell the sorted materials to scrap dealers, earning between 300 to 400 rupees daily. This amounts to roughly 12,000 rupees per month—a meager income in the face of rising inflation. Beyond financial struggles, these workers also face health risks from exposure to harmful bacteria and germs. Nadeem recalls a time when he fell severely ill after contracting an infection from the waste. “The germs spread to my children, and I had to borrow money for their treatment,” he shares.
Kafeel Ali, another garbage collector in Lahore, has been in the profession for over a decade. His hands are marked with injuries, a testament to the hazards of his work. “We know the job is dirty, but what can we do? We have to feed our families,” Kafeel says. He laments the lack of respect they receive from society, recounting an incident where he was denied food and told to take garbage instead.
Despite their indispensable role in maintaining the city’s cleanliness and contributing to environmental protection, garbage collectors like Nadeem and Kafeel lack basic protective gear. “We even buy our own brooms,” Nadeem explains. “The government provides us with nothing.”
Chaudhry Aslam, Operations Manager at Lahore Waste Management Company, told the BBC that the organization has placed waste bins for garbage collectors and plans to provide them with protective equipment in the future. He also mentioned that private contractors have been appointed to raise awareness among these workers.
Lahore’s garbage collectors work tirelessly day and night to keep the city clean, yet their efforts go largely unnoticed. They face not only economic hardships but also societal prejudice. These unsung heroes not only ensure the city’s cleanliness but also play a pivotal role in environmental conservation. Their story is a stark reminder of the need for greater recognition, support, and respect for those who perform some of the most essential yet overlooked work in society.
