In a research on social and economic position of scavengers, their life and work conditions, Vladimir Radojicic from Green initiative presented a typical profile of scrap collector who in average lives 46 years, whose working day lasts for 11 hours and belongs to most vulnerable and poorest social group, who is unemployed, without health care, and monthly manages to earn from 11,000 to 15,000 RSD by selling scrap materials. There are up to 55000 of scavengers in Serbia. Legalization of scavenger’s work would not only improve their social position but would also, by comparative experiences increase the amount of collected recycling materials by 20%, as it was mentioned in presentation.
Research was presented at yesterday’s meeting with media representatives on subject „Scrap collectors – problem or potential“, which Green initiative had organized in en effort to point out not only a necessity but also social, economic and environmental benefits of inclusion of scrap collector’s work into a legal framework of waste management system.
