At the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, a dedicated session will explore how waste pickers can play a central role in advancing aluminium recycling and supporting the transition to a circular economy. Scheduled for November 13, the discussion, titled “People Driving the Circular Economy: Integrating Waste Pickers in Aluminium Recycling,” will be jointly organised by the global organisations such as the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), and the Associação Brasileira do Alumínio (ABAL).
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Panel to explore inclusion of waste pickers in formal markets
Marlen Bertram, director of scenarios and forecasts at the IAI, emphasised the importance of collaboration across the aluminium sector to achieve global recycling goals. “Meeting ambitious global recycling targets requires every stakeholder across the aluminium value chain to work in concert.”.
The panel will discuss practical strategies to incorporate waste pickers into formal recycling markets. The objective of this discussion is to highlight successful pilot projects and evaluate the feasibility of this effort in the existing climate policies. The panel will also discuss whether the sourcing standards can be enhanced to better reflect inclusive practices.
At present, the aluminium industry directly employs around 1.6 million people across the world. Simultaneously, 15 to 20 million waste pickers play a key role in maintaining these huge recycling efforts and lowering carbon emissions. Despite their contribution, many waste pickers still struggle for their rights, recognition and safety associated with standard employment.
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Janaina Donas of ABAL has identified that Brazil and other South American countries have strongly relied on informal recycling networks to reinforce their efforts as part of their eco-friendly efforts and economic goals. She stated, “As we host COP30 in Belém, we have a unique opportunity to showcase how we can lead the way in creating inclusive recycling systems that honour the dignity and expertise of waste pickers while strengthening our collective climate response. Their integration into formal markets is not just an economic imperative, it’s a matter of social justice and environmental effectiveness”
List of Panellists:
The session aims to underline how integrating waste pickers into formal recycling systems can strengthen climate resilience, promote fair labour practices, and create a more inclusive global aluminium value chain.
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