Abstract
This paper draws on interviews with women waste pickers in Bangalore (India) to describe their work, the returns they receive and the difficulties they face. This includes the extent to which other family members (including husbands, for those who are married) contribute to household income. It also includes a detailed account of a day in the life of a woman waste picker. Despite the low returns and the health risks, waste picking offers one of the few ways in which women from lower castes can earn an income and also meet their household and child-rearing responsibilities. The paper also includes a description of the Garbage Recycling and Segregation Programme (GRASP) in Pune and some conclusions and recommendations for governments and NGOs