Waste picker

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/waste-picker

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary occupation?Collection, sorting, and sale of reusable or recyclable materials from discarded waste
2. What is the related global issues?Urbanization, global waste trade, toxic colonialism, informal economy, circular economy principles
3. Why do people become waste pickers?People become waste pickers often because they need money and can find value in discarded items. It is a way to earn a living when other jobs are hard to find.
4. How do waste pickers help the planet?Waste pickers keep a lot of plastic, metal, and paper out of landfills. By recycling these materials, they reduce pollution, save energy, and protect forests and other natural resources.

Salvage: The act of rescuing or recovering materials that would otherwise be lost or discarded.
Recyclable Materials: Substances such as plastic, metal, glass, and paper that can be reprocessed into new products.
Landfills: Sites designated for the disposal of waste materials by burial, often posing environmental risks.
Circular Economy: An economic model aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.