Ouagadougou women find survival and environmental purpose in plastic recycling at a landfill

In Ouagadougou, a landfill near the Toudbwéogo cemetery has become a critical site for numerous women, including widows, internally displaced persons, and unemployed mothers, who sort through waste daily to collect plastic bags for resale. Despite the unsanitary conditions, their work significantly contributes to environmental protection by removing tons of plastic for recycling. Each day, trucks and tricycles deliver new loads of refuse, prompting a rush among women and children to collect plastic bags, which are a valuable commodity. Many of these women, like Mamounata Ouédraogo, suffer from physical ailments due to the strenuous work but rely on the meager earnings to survive. The influx of internally displaced persons has intensified competition, making it harder to collect sufficient quantities of plastic. Mariam Compaoré, a single mother of six, starts her day at 6 AM, enduring cuts from broken glass and other hazards, which she treats with salt and potash. The women express a need for robust gloves and boots to mitigate injuries and infections. They sell the collected plastic for 115 CFA francs per kilogram, a price that remains low despite the increasing difficulty of the work and the growing number of collectors. While their efforts are crucial for the city's recycling chain, these women are largely unaware of the ecological impact of their actions, viewing it primarily as a means of survival. They collectively wish for stable employment or vocational training to esc