Waste workers begin their rounds before sunrise and work through the heat of the day, covering large distances on foot with limited access to water, sanitation or shade. Their work is physically demanding and time-sensitive. It cannot be paused or moved indoors. And yet, despite working through India's hottest months in conditions that are directly hazardous to their health, waste workers remain almost entirely outside the scope of heat action planning in India.
HeatWatch, in partnership with Hasiru Dala, studied 154 waste workers in Bengaluru. 92% reported that extreme heat significantly affects their work. Workers reported income losses of 30 to 40% during peak heat months, severe dehydration, muscle cramps and exhaustion. Heat-related muscle cramps were the most common symptom, affecting 77% of women and 64% of men, followed by heat exhaustion affecting 68% of women and 52% of men.
Read more about our work with waste workers here.