Closing of landfills throughout the territory increased the vulnerability of recyclers and severely limit their employment opportunities, as 63% are illiterate and 30% have not completed primary education.
The report “Mapping of Recyclers from 30 Landfills in Remediation and Closure in the Dominican Republic” reveals another concern that worsens: 65% of women recyclers have a high rate of illiteracy, most of them without legal documents that would allow them to access social security. Since they are the only breadwinners for their families, they are forced to look for alternative jobs and this increases their vulnerability.
In this regard, foreign recyclers face additional challenges due to their precarious legal situation, highlighting how the lack of documents not only limits access to basic services, but also exposes them to labour abuses and discrimination. The report warns that the closure could perpetuate the cycle of poverty and exclusion that already affects this population.
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The study was conducted through surveys in landfills nationwide.
They said they hope for long-term solutions through a better understanding and implementation of public policies that benefit these essential workers and contribute to a more sustainable management of waste in the country. The results were presented yesterday at the headquarters of the Municipal League.
The document also highlights the alarming presence of children in landfills, which raises a serious problem of child labour in unhealthy and dangerous conditions. Human rights experts therefore call on the authorities to take immediate measures to eradicate this practice and ensure that children have access to education and live in a safe environment.
Given this situation, they recommend adopting a series of urgent measures, including literacy and training programmes for recyclers, and the creation of safe work spaces.
They also call for expanding social benefits, such as health insurance and financial aid, to protect the most vulnerable families.
Distribution of recyclers by province
According to the number of recyclers per province, the report places Santo Domingo Norte (Duquesa SDN) as the landfill with the largest number of recyclers, with 3,350, of which 1,500 are women and 50 are children, and the place with the most Haitian recyclers with 1,410.
Next comes the National District (Transfer Station): with 150 recyclers, and a higher proportion of men 120 than women only 30, while San Cristóbal specifically in (Ingenio Nuevo and Bajos de Haina) has a combined total of 207 recyclers.
San Pedro de Macorís (Batey Alemán Landfill): has 190 recyclers, and a significant number of 125 women, Greater Santo Domingo (Cancino Transfer) with 77 recyclers, and an almost equal distribution between men and women.
Likewise, but in the provinces of Villa Altagracia, Azua, La Vega, Espaillat in Moca, Santiago in Tamboril, Samaná in Las Terrenas, Baní, Santo Domingo in San Luis, and Santiago Rafey there is a lower proportion of recyclers compared to the previous provinces.
The project was coordinated by German Herrera, General Coordinator of the National Recyclers Movement Robinson García Silfa and Nicolás E. Mendoza in his role as Trainer and Training.
Also, Alfredo Candelario Tejeda: Responsible for Tabulation and Analysis, Maribel Montero Pérez Coordinator of the Mapping/Survey of Recyclers and Olga Leticia Rosario in the area of Financial Assistance and Accounting.
The survey of recyclers in the municipalities was led by Erika Nathalia Peguero Barrera, and Cristal Rodríguez as Representative of the Recyclers in the Mapping of landfills of Haitian origin.
The researchers said the study aims not only to describe the current situation, but also to propose solutions and recommendations to improve the conditions of the short, medium and long term recyclers.
