Garbage Life: Waste Collectors’ Problems, Coping Strategies, and Insights

Abstract

Waste collectors collect tons of garbage daily. While some studies explored the exposure of waste collectors to their work, workplace, workmates, and community, the interaction of these factors and the waste collectors’ perception of their health remain unexplored. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of waste collectors by utilizing a biopsychosocial framework in investigating their problems, coping strategies, and insights. The 20 participants specified physical discomforts and physical injuries as their problems in terms of biological aspect. Regarding the psychological aspect, they encountered self-worth and health uncertainty concerns, and in terms of the social aspect, they experienced workplace issues and negative social perception and stigma. The coping strategies that they utilized were body and health care and body perceptions (biological aspect), work acceptance (psychological aspect), and work comparison, work convenience, flexible time, and social appreciation (social aspect). They also gained insights on health and body perception (physical aspect), optimism and purpose (psychological aspect), and work environment and dignity (social aspect). The insights gained by the participants enabled them to be more resilient in facing the challenges connected with their work and be more appreciative of their job.