Comments on: Human Capital for Recycling: Waste Pickers in Istanbul, Turkey http://www.globalsiteplans.com/environmental-design/human-capital-for-recycling-waste-pickers-in-istanbul-turkey/ Branding for Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Non-Profits, Landscape Architecture, & Urban Planning Companies Tue, 21 May 2013 19:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Nazlı Ödevci http://www.globalsiteplans.com/environmental-design/human-capital-for-recycling-waste-pickers-in-istanbul-turkey/comment-page-1/#comment-21361 Nazlı Ödevci Wed, 30 May 2012 10:43:36 +0000 http://globalsiteplans.blogs.patsoffice.com/?p=7792#comment-21361 Hi Jordan. Thank you for your valuable comments. I totally agree with you about the vital importance of informal employment. To me these people are the benign components of urban systems; like a useful germ in a body, which help to dissolve food and keep the system in balance.
It is interesting to hear other waste pickers from the other side of the world. So please share information with us if you have seen “dumpster divers” anywhere else in the world.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.globalsiteplans.com/environmental-design/human-capital-for-recycling-waste-pickers-in-istanbul-turkey/comment-page-1/#comment-21180 Jordan Fri, 25 May 2012 23:07:19 +0000 http://globalsiteplans.blogs.patsoffice.com/?p=7792#comment-21180 I remember seeing waste pickers while visiting Turkey last year. Labelling their collection of recyclables as theft reminds me of the position of so-called dumpster divers in North America, who pull cans and bottles from public trash cans. For the most part I think they are left alone here, as the majority of them are homeless individuals who benefit from the extra income.

Overall, I believe that the informal employment sector forms a vital part of urban systems. Those who run the systems are often too caught up in legal issues, standardization, and taxation to see the benefit of a loose hold.

]]>