The International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP) is an international union committed to advancing the rights and strengthening organizing of waste pickers. IAWP is in the process of becoming a formal entity, with its constitution approved by waste pickers’ movements in 34 countries around the world in October 2022 and organized its First Elective Congress to elect the office bearers of the organization in May 2024.

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a union of 54 waste picker organizations representing more than 500,000 workers across 34 countries.

This is a graphic introduction of the governance structures at the IAWP.

These are a few key moments in IAWP history. Explore more in our Global meetings section.

First International and Third Latin American Conference of Waste Pickers in Bogota, Colombia. March 1-4, 2008.

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Global Strategic Workshop for Waste Pickers held in Pune, India. April 24-30, 2012.

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Global exchange of waste pickers held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 17-22, 2018.

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