Through the Shadows: An In-Depth Study of Informal Waste Collectors’ Plight Amidst Covid-19 in Sri Lanka

This study delves into the unprecedented challenges faced by the informal waste collectors in Sri Lanka amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, shedding light on the socio-economic adversities they encountered and the coping strategies they employed. Fifty informal waste workers from the Boralesgamuwa Urban Council and Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council areas were purposively selected for the study, and thematic analysis was employed to analyse qualitative data. The findings illuminated a cascade of challenges, as informal waste collectors faced reduced interactions with residents leading to an abrupt refusal of services. Further compounding their struggles, the local councils implemented an 11-month ban on informal waste collection, leaving these workers grappling with severe income losses and uncertainty about their future. Adding to their struggles, informal waste collectors faced protests and resistance from their neighbors and residents who feared the potential spread of COVID-19 through waste handling. Amidst these adversities, informal waste collectors displayed resilience, employing various coping strategies to sustain their livelihoods, such as diversifying their income streams by taking up multiple informal jobs, finding alternative employment, and turning to informal lenders for financial assistance. Moreover, some collectors continued to collect economically valuable waste away from the eyes of authorities, salvaging their livelihoods clandestinely. In their pursuit of survival, some reduced the number of meals their families consumed, while others compromised on the quality of food they consumed. Additionally, these waste collectors relied on the support of relatives, neighbors, and friends to obtain loans, handouts, and essential food items. This research underscores the dire circumstances faced by informal waste collectors in Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted support and policy interventions to safeguard their well-being.