MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WADI SHAER JOINT SERVICE COUNCIL - WSJSC

WADI SHAER JOINT SERVICES COUNCIL SOLID WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT - TF 053262

RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN FOR

ANABTA DUMPSITE WASTE PICKERS

September 2009

881RP

Table of content

Page

1. Background 2

2. Objectives 2

3. Census Survey 2

4. Consultation with PAP about acceptable compensation schemes 5

5. Institutional responsibility for implementing the grievance redress 6

6. Arrangements for monitoring and implementation 8

7. Timetable and budget 9

8. Annexes a. Annex (1): Waste pickers list in the Anabta Dump siteb. Annex (2): Photos for waste pickers in Anabta dumpsite

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1. Background:

In the context of improving the solid waste management system in the West Bank and Gaza, the Government of Italy (GOI) has contributed to the Palestinian Authority (PA) a grant for the amount of EURO 1.36 million to implement a solid waste management project. The objective of this project is to improve the environmental living conditions of the people of Anabta and surrounding villages through an environmentally sound solid waste management system. This project is planned to provide a component to establish a transfer station in Anabta region and transfer the solid waste (about 40 tons per day) from the station to the Zahrat Al-Finjan sanitary landfill which was recently constructed under the SWEMP and operational since July 2007. Currently, burning of waste is a very common practice.

This project includes investments in the Wadi Shaeer area in Tulkarm governorate region for the purpose of providing solid waste management services to Anabta and selected surrounding villages related to the construction of a regional transfer station, construction of a transmission water pipeline, construction of an electrical MV line, and access roads to the new facilities. In addition the project will also support the closure and rehabilitation of 3 random small and remote dumpsites (Ramin, Kufr Al-Labad and Iktaba) and the temporary rehabilitation and management of the current regional dumpsite in Anabta and its closure once the new facilities are in place and operational. Four (4) people will be affected by the closure of these dumpsites (Project Affected People (PAP)), and therefore the need to prepare and implement a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) is required and included in this document. Due to the limited number of PAPs, an Abbreviated RAP is prepared to provide a review, analysis and recommendations of appropriate mitigation measures to be taken during project design and implementation by the project executing agency (WSJSC).

2. Objectives of this ARAP

This document aims to propose a plan of action for finding an alternative work for this category of people who practice waste picking in the project area. This document also provides a description of the socio-economic conditions of the PAP; proposes alternatives and solutions in terms of providing employment opportunities and income after the closure of the dump sites have been closed. This document also presents the responsibilities to arrange for monitoring and implantation; implementation time table and budget.

3. Census Survey

A social development consultant has been contracted by the WSJSC to carry out a detailed review of the PAPs and work closely with them and the client towards satisfactory agreement of grievance mechanism.

An observation and monitoring process of the site was used as primary tools for data collection between the period of August 6 – 18, 2009. This process took place at different times during the day. This is in order to identify the waste pickers who come to the dumping site and pickup the waste on a daily basis, and to document the knowledge and methods of waste picking and transfer to final destination.

A questionnaire1 was prepared for this purpose which consisted of the identification of five themes related to personal data, social, and the process of exhumation and scavenging, exploration and scavenging procedures, and the quantity of waste that is collected on a daily basis; in preparation for an interview with these waste pickers.

Field visits and interviews with the PAP have been arranged by the WSJSC. The interviews aimed to document the social, economic, and health aspects, in addition to the future of their career in the event that the dumping site was closed, and the alternatives they propose, or can be provided to them.

1 Questionnaires and Results in the Arabic language are kept on file.2

Figure 1: interview with waste pickers

The study population consisted of waste pickers who come to Wadi Shaer dumping site on daily basis and regularly and collect solid wastes. There were four adult males (one non-systematic in his work), in addition to the children of one father who participated in the work during the school summer holidays only. The following Table 1 summarizes some of the social characteristics of waste pickers.

Independent Group Number of respondents

Place of residence

Nour Shams

refugee camp Thinnaba Village Total

3 1 4

Marital statusMarried Single

3 1 4

Level of EducationElementary school Secondary school

3 1 4

Ownership of housingUNRWA Private

3 1 4

Family size6 or less 10 1 (single)

2 1 1

BreadwinnerFather

Father and

sonsNot applicable

2 1 1 4

Number of years of

work in the dump site

5 or less 6-10

1 3 4

From Table 1, it can be concluded that three of the waste pickers are residing in the Nur Shams refugee camp (some the kilometers from the dumpsite), and one lives in a village Thinnaba. Three out of the four interviewed waste pickers are married, and three of them have elementary education while one has secondary education.. Regarding the ownership of homes that they live in, three out of the fours home are owned by the UNRWA while the fourth is privately owned. The number of households of those waste pickers varies from 6 members (applicable to two pickers) and ten members (applicable to one picker) and one picker with no dependents. The number of years of work of waste pickers in the dumping site for 5 years or less was one, and the rest worked to a period ranging between 6 - 10 years.

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Table 2 summarizes the most important types of collected solid wastes and the rate of income.

NotesDaily average

income (NIS)

Unit Price

(NIS/kg)

Quantity collected

per day (kg)

Material

Iron is classified according to its thickness*150.3-0.520-30Iron

Cookers, windows, doors1025Aluminum

Cables21140.5-1.5Copper

Chairs sold in a different way-----0.3Not knownPlastic

*Iron products class A: rod-building, motor vehicle, bridges. *Iron products class B: Wire frames, the body of a car, metal containers, beverage cans*Total monthly income for each of them varies 1,196 NIS

From Table 2 it is clear that the main items of solid waste collected by waste pickers were the iron, aluminum, copper and plastic. These items give a good financial return when selling them to the competent authorities. It is noted that the average daily income without the plastic is about NIS 46 per day, or the average monthly income is about NIS 1,196.

Figure 2: Types of collected waste

Results related to the waste picking process

Number of hours of exploration in the landfill: 8-9 hours per day except Friday. Times of exploration in the landfill: from 5 am to 2 -3 pm. Materials that are sold: iron, plastic, aluminum, copper. Mechanism for collecting these materials: waste is collected and then sorted, by the

waste pickers and each item is placed alone in the bags. Mechanism for the transfer of waste outside the landfill: For all waste pickers, solid

wastes are transported via bicycle or horse-drawn vehicle to the Nour Shams refugee

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camp to be delivered to the dealer and the broker (Salah Abu Yacoub in Tulkarem - Salam Street).

Waste pickers does not work for factories or companies, but work in a personal capacity and are not linked with anyone.

Mechanism for the sale of such wastes or materials that are collected: sold to intermediaries in turn sell to Brokers within the Green Line for recycling.

Also, waste pickers have a different professional skill such as building field, plumber and gardening which they were worked inside green line before year 2000.

From the interviews, there were a number of reasons that pushed the PAP to take on waste picking in the Anabta dumpsite. These include: a) loss of employment due to the closure imposed on Palestinian laborers working in Israel after the start of the 2nd intifada in 2000, b) very limited opportunities in their communities, and c) the low education levels that was an obstacle to their getting other types of jobs. Some of them were exercising some of this work within the Green Line in landfills. They also see that the practice of the waste picking as a profession or work better than begging on any case.

The PAP who reside in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp worked for a limited period with the UNRWA’s interim emergency program (they worked four times and each time period of 3 months and was done in the collection of solid waste in the Nur Shams refugee camp), and they are working in the care of the gardens of some houses, or digging graves.

Verification of Waste Pickers: A survey of waste pickers was carried out by the Social Specialist and information was based on the above described interviews with waste pickers and staff from the WSJSC.

4. Consultation with PAP about acceptable compensation schemes

In addition to the socio-economic study carried out by Social Development Specialist, consultations were also carried with the WSJSC to ensure that comprehensive information about waste pickers at Wadi shaer dump site are properly filed.

The waste pickers and some NGOs have also been consulted about the impact of closure of Anabta dump site on their socio-economic status. Specifically, options for employment and other interests were discussed in light of the soon to be closed dump site. Such options include temporary employment during the rehabilitation of the dumpsites and the construction of the transfer station which may take at up to 8 months. Other options were post construction of the transfer station, i.e. during the operations stage.

The Social Committee of the WSJSC is responsible to find suitable compensation for waste pickers in the public or private sectors. So, this section of the ARP presents two types of compensation schemes targeted at the PAP related to this project, and documents processes, plans and schemes that have been put in place to facilitate livelihood restoration of waste pickers. This ARAP considers two types of compensation:

Non-monetary compensation: Waste picking is unhealthy and unsafe work and it designates these affected people with a social stigma in their society. Therefore, the WSJSC Social Committee seeks to compensate the waste pickers through alternative work opportunities that are safe and financially rewarding. This will implemented through relevant training in waste separation and / or alternative employment opportunities in projects and activities initiated by the WSJSC, or work at the soon to be opened neighboring poultry farm.

Monetary compensation: aims at compensating the waste pickers on any impact which may be incurred to their livelihoods due to the closure and rehabilitation of the dumpsites. Though the main preference is to provide the affected people with other means to sustain their livelihoods as stated in the previous paragraph, and as a last resort, the WSJSC Social Committee may revert to some financial compensation to be agreed to with the affected people.

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Compensation schemes and agreements between the WSJSC Social committee and the PAPs are undergoing to ensure that fair compensations are provided through the possible alternative job opportunities. The following Table 3 shows acceptable alternatives by the concerned parties.

Type of

loss

Category Proposed Entitlement Remarks

Loss of income

Waste pickers at Wadi Shaer dump site surveyed by the social specialist

Identify waste pickers and prepare formal document for the WSJSC

To determine the WSJSC with person work at dump site regularly to find suitable compensation for them

Adult waste pickers Provide them with alternative employment through the SWEMP or within Anabta municipality

Waste pickers receive support from organization and contracting work

Waste pickers who don’t accept to work in rehabilitation of the dump site

Provide them with employment at the newly constructed fuel station or at under construction poultry farm.

Waste pickers chose this alternative.

Waste pickers at Wadi Shaer dump site

Provide them with alternative employment at the transfer station and other related infra structure during construction.

Many have construction experience and work in construction is appealing.

Facilitate to find job opportunities in upcoming WSJSC supported construction projects.

WSJSC has issued a new contract to construct a new public swimming pool in same area.

5. Institutional responsibility for implementing the grievance redress

The following Table 4 provides an overview of the institutional responsibilities for implementing the ARAP.

Implementation

StagesAgency Responsibilities

Project Preparation

WSJSC & Anabta

Municipality

1. Prepare ARAP and disclose it.

2. Assist in securing the necessary financial resources

for compensation

WSJSC 1. Formation of the Social Committee

2. Assist to coordinate with NGO that plans and

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Implementation

StagesAgency Responsibilities

facilitates the waste pickers support.

3. Identification all affected persons, advising them

of their rights,

4. Disclose locally the ARAP to affected persons,

5. Follow-up all matters of public and NGO concern

with regard to any complaints that may arise

during the implementation process.

6. Direct contacts with affected persons either

individually or in groups.

NegotiationsMinistry of Local

Government / WSJSC

Conduct consultation meetings with the project

affected people at the dump sites, inform them about

the ARAPs and their right to obtain compensations,

and find their priorities and preferences

Project Implementation

Ministry of Local Government Overall monitoring

Wadi Shaeer municipalities mainly Anabta municipality

Implement ARAP

WSJSC Undertake community liaison (day to day operation)

Social Committee of

WSJSC

1. Conduct surveys and consultation meetings with

waste pickers to negotiation them about the

compensations options, and explore the preferences

of the waste pickers.

2. Coordination with the management of the transfer

station to negotiate employment or contract

opportunities for individual or association of adult

waste pickers

3. Arrange cooperation with NGOs or private firms to

give employment or contract opportunities for

individual or associations of adult waste pickers

4. Coordination with the social department of Anabta

and surrounding municipalities for arranging

support through social affairs program in UNRWA.

Courts Final say in disputes regarding ownership rights and

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Implementation

StagesAgency Responsibilities

compensation

External Monitoring Ensure compliance with funding agreement

Grievance: Waste pickers do not have any legal right on the basis of which they can bring a claim for compensation for loss of income before a court. That does not mean that they cannot try to do so, but it is unlikely that a court will be able to assist them. Therefore the Social Committee is to be set up under the WSJSC to hear any concerns/ disputes with waste pickers. The WSJSC has mandated the Social Committee as a sub-committee of the WSJSC. It comprises of the Chairman of the WSJSC, Mayor of Bla’a, the Project Manager and Social Development Specialist, a consultant who has been contracted under the Project for developing the detailed mechanisms in relation to the waste pickers.

The Social Committee will carry-out further stakeholder consultations with the waste pickers to arrive at mutually agreed grievance measures and implementation mechanisms. The WSJSC will commit to be bound by the decisions of the Social Committee and to implement the measures agreed by the Social Committee through a process that will be formulated by the Social Committee and acceptable to the World Bank and it will commit to enforce the measures decided by the Social Committee to reach an outcome that is described in this ARAP using the resources set aside for this purpose under the Project. The WSJSC will ensure that sufficient resources are made available to implement the measures, and agree to increase the amounts currently calculated if the Bank considers this necessary.

6. Arrangements for monitoring and implementation

Following are four foreseen forms of ARAP monitoring:

1. Internal Monitoring. The WSJSC will be primary internal monitoring of ARAP implementation. The WSJSC will monitor the progress of ARAP implementation against predetermined performance targets, and facilitate the work of the external and independent monitors through effective record keeping and the preparation of periodic Project Progress Reports. The Municipalities will provide early warning of ARAP related project difficulties and concerns and will ensure affected persons concerns are adequately addressed by the project. The WSJSC and the Municipalities will jointly ensure that payments are made to the correct individuals in accordance with the compensation agreements.

2. NGO Participation: An NGO will be contracted by the WSJSC to support the detailed design and implementation of the various proposed schemes and measures mentioned above or any additional acceptable schemes.

3. Bank monitoring. Bank supervision missions will regularly and systematically review the progress of ARAP implementation and reference their findings in aide-memoirs.

4. Independent mid-Term/End of Project Evaluation. An independent review of implementation progress and any problems will be commissioned prior to mid-term review and discussed at it. This review will undertake field visits and will hold consultations with project-affected persons in order to determine their experiences, document problems, solutions and any unresolved issues, with recommendations. Action taken on this review shall constitute a component of the project Implementation Completion Report, as required by Bank procedures. The Bank does

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not consider a project fully complete until satisfactory ARAP outcomes are registered.

7. Timetable and budgetThe expenses involved in this ARAP are the costs that the project has to cover for compensation for those losing their income opportunities from waste picking at the Wadi Shaer dumpsite during implementation of SWEMP. Sector two presented the principles on which the costs have been estimated. The following Table 5 present the estimated budget related to this ARAP in New Israeli Shekels

Compensation ParameterWadi shaer

Costs (NIS)

Total

Costs (NIS)

Waste picker live hood support 41,600 41,600

US$1.0 equivalent to NIS4.0

**The ARAP presents the frameworks of the Resettlement Action Plan to protect the interest of households that are negatively affected by the project so that the social risks are minimized and thereby the regional solid waste project enjoys wide societal support.

All waste pickers will be given compensation to cover their needs during rehabilitation or construction period in the dump site so, the following equation shows details:

Each pickers will work on daily pay system during compensation period which will be extended over 8 months (project duration) so, each day will take NIS 50 and in return will work 26 day per a month:

NIS 50 X (26 day/m.) = NIS 1,300 per month per PAP

NIS 1,300 X (4 pickers) = NIS 5,200 per month

NIS 5,200 X (8 months) = NIS 41,600 (~ US$ 10,400)

Table 6: Time table to implement RAP

Activity Responsibility Date

Waste picker notification about closing

dump site

WSJSC Social

CommitteeOctober 1, 2009

Find temporary job opportunitiesWSJSC Social

Committee

October 1 – November

1, 2009

Create permanent job contract in private

sector or NGOs

WSJSC Social

CommitteeApril 1 – 30, 2010

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Annex (1) List of Waste Pickers in Wadi Shaer

Place of resident

Family

member

no.AgePicker nameNo.

Thenabeh628Nassri Younis Iamor1

Nur shams camp647Fared Saed Mohammed Aaian2

Nur shams camp-----20Abdullah Fared Mohammed Aaian3

Nur shams camp1040Yaser Assad Saleh Saforee4

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Annex 2: Some of photos for waste pickers in Anabta dumpsite

WB203369

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