Dr. Alireza Sharifi Yazdi believes that “currently, waste management is not the most catastrophic event in our society from an economic perspective, but rather it is simply one of the most visible ones.” This social psychology expert admitted in an interview with Khat-e-Solh that the most important factor in the widespread prevalence of false occupations such as waste collection and waste disposal in recent years is the economic problems and challenges that exist in Iran today. However, he believes that because waste recycling is profitable, there are also gangs formed around it that attract waste collectors and somehow exploit them. You can read the full interview with Alireza Sharifi Yazdi below.

It seems that waste collection and disposal, which until a few years ago was a source of income for a specific and small population (often sociological analyses limited it to the homeless or some marginalized groups), has now become a widespread phenomenon. What is your opinion on this? What do you think is the reason behind it?

Economic growth in Iran during the 1990s – from 1391 to 1400, corresponding to the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth governments – has been sometimes negative, ranging from -6% to -3%, and at other times positive, ranging from 1% to 2%. With these figures, we can consider the economic growth of the country over the past decade to be close to zero. When a country’s economic growth is zero, we will witness an increase in poverty, a widening income gap, a decrease in the middle class population, and a corresponding growth of the lower class in that society. This issue is accompanied by consequences that we are currently witnessing, including marginalization, unemployment, the emergence of various crimes and social problems, and false occupations. One tangible manifestation of this at the city level is the issue of waste disposal, which you also mentioned. Currently, waste disposal is not the most catastrophic event in our society from an economic perspective, but

Another reason is the issue of migration, which has its own various factors; migration from rural areas to cities, from small towns to larger cities, and from larger cities to metropolises. These migrations have led to widespread marginalization, especially in metropolises. Many of the people who migrate have low literacy and no specific skills. In fact, they are people who were displaced and have not been able to settle in their new location. These individuals are forced to do the simplest jobs to meet their daily needs, one of which is waste collection. Another reason can be attributed to the increase in the population of addicts in society. Studies show that a large portion of waste collectors are those who are addicted and choose this false profession to support their addiction. Others are foreign nationals; those who enter the country illegally from eastern borders. These migrants usually do not have legal residence or work permits. As a result, they are targeted by waste collection gangs, and in this way, they bring along another population

Each of the factors I mentioned can be a significant part of the reasons for the widespread waste management in recent years. However, as I mentioned at the beginning, in my opinion, the most important factor is the economic problems and challenges that our society is currently facing.

One of the factors contributing to the widespread issue of waste management, according to your claim, is marginalization and migration, particularly migration to major cities. Don’t you think that individuals who have been living in major cities for a long time or those who are considered natives of those areas may also contribute to the current waste problem?

According to exploratory studies, a large portion of individuals who have settled in major cities for many years have been able to provide themselves with at least basic living facilities. They have acquired skills and are employed in workshops, companies, or job institutions. At the very least, they have seasonal jobs as laborers. However, this does not mean that these individuals are incapable of reaching a point where they become garbage collectors. Some may also be forced to collect garbage, but their numbers are much lower compared to immigrants and marginalized populations. Usually, most garbage collectors are those who either return to the outskirts of large cities at night or spend the night in parks, streets, or buses during suitable seasons like spring and summer, and collect garbage during the day. This means that they do not have a specific place of residence. Among them are also cardboard box sleepers who use municipal warming centers more often during the winter. There are also some who, despite living in the city, collect garbage for various reasons such

Keep in mind that when we talk about marginalization today, we should not consider a specific and absolute population as the basis. The cost of living and accommodation in major cities has skyrocketed. This has led to an increase in the population of those who are pushed away from the city center and towards the margins day by day.

You had previously mentioned in a conversation about the relationship between false professions and the exacerbation of social problems. What is the impact of this garbage on society?

The effects are multiple and varied. On one hand, we must look at the psyche of the garbage collector. Garbage collection naturally causes the individual to lose their self-esteem and self-confidence. Instead of having a socially respected job, they are forced to spend their days rummaging through trash cans just to make ends meet. They may also face harsh reactions from people and competitors. All of this leads to a loss of self-confidence and self-esteem, which in turn has psychological effects. If the garbage collector is the head of the household, these effects can be even worse. This is because when such a person – who feels the heavy burden of providing for their family – brings their troubled mental state home, it can create a chaotic atmosphere for the family. This chaotic family can then produce children who may become susceptible to various social problems.

On the other hand, the collective spiritual and mental impact must be taken into consideration. Nowadays, when an ordinary citizen leaves their house in the morning to go to work, until they reach their workplace, they are likely to encounter several times with a group of garbage collectors who are bent over inside trash cans and searching for a piece of bread among the garbage of others. Naturally, that citizen is not happy to see the garbage collectors and as a result, they do not have a good mental state to do their job well throughout the day. These two phenomena, which are cause and effect of each other, convey a hidden message to society. The message is that society is unsafe and has little hope for the future. These are all signs of social damages.

It is said that municipalities take into account the profit of waste collection in their contracts with contractors. What is your opinion on this matter? How do you evaluate the approach of municipalities, especially in Tehran, towards this phenomenon? I ask this question more in the sense that in some of your conversations you mentioned individuals or groups behind the waste collection process…

Yes, in my opinion there are gangs that exist and such gangs are everywhere; wherever there is a benefit and profit and a group can benefit more from it, they form a gang. However, I do not believe that these gangs are connected to the municipality. At least the issue is not directly related to the municipality. Many of these formations are private and behind the scenes. Like those who employ child labor and send them to work. Municipalities enter into contracts with a number of companies and institutions for waste recycling based on their work rules, which happen to be well-known and reputable companies. This issue, in my opinion, is not undesirable and has nothing to do with waste management. The gangs I mentioned, illegally employ waste collectors or buy their waste at a very low price and store it in bulk to sell and pocket their own profits. Otherwise, municipalities around the world rely on waste recycling as one of their important sources of financial support. The role of companies and institutions as intermediaries is completely

Some executive officials and municipalities sometimes deal with garbage collectors claiming that they make the face of the cities ugly. You also mentioned this issue in your talks. But with a professional look at city management, is dealing with garbage collectors really the solution to the problem and organizing this situation?

See, there are two solutions to this issue; a short-term solution and a long-term solution. The long-term solution is to improve the country’s economic situation to the point where we can overcome the current crisis. Conditions should be such that no one is forced to collect garbage or at least the problem is not as widespread. Currently, the inflation rate in Iran is one of the highest in the world, or as the president has said, inflation in the past few years has not been seen in the past seventy years. Therefore, in the first place, we must address this issue to bring the country back to a relatively normal state. These actions must be carried out by professionals and experts who are surely thinking about it. But in the short term, in my opinion, the solution is for municipalities, welfare organizations, and relief committees to get involved. Municipalities can delegate these scattered garbage collectors to a company or legal institution through a contract. If this happens, garbage collectors can have a job and

It is a naive thought to believe that by collecting or gathering four pieces of trash, the face of a beautiful city will become beautiful. The face of the city will not become beautiful in this way. This approach will not lead anywhere because firstly, by collecting a group of people, another group will take their place, and secondly, only the surface of the problem has been cleaned. The reality is that a vast number of people today are in need and some earn their income through this work. This issue has its roots in widespread poverty that has taken hold of Iranian society, creating a heavy gap between the rich and the poor.

Collecting garbage is referred to as a false job. What is your sociological definition of false jobs?

Jobs are divided into three categories: “production and industrial”, “services”, and “agriculture”. Any job that does not fall within this framework is considered a false job. False jobs are not necessarily limited to waste collection. Many real estate companies or car dealerships are also false jobs. False jobs can even be hidden unemployment within offices and organizations; meaning an office or organization that can be managed by fifty employees, has two hundred people working there. This is while in such conditions, most people do not work more than half an hour to an hour a day and cannot be efficient. As a result, the rest of their day is spent on false jobs.

While waste management, if it is mechanized and professional, in a way that the person is employed, has a contract and benefits, it means being a waste recycler, which is completely a service and necessary job for society. Even from an environmental perspective, the existence of such a necessary job is important.

As a final question, do you think the prevalence of fake jobs in Iran is different compared to other parts of the world, especially developed countries?

Given our unique social, economic, and cultural circumstances, our false professions are naturally different from many other countries. For example, in Tehran, there is a false profession that does not exist anywhere else in the world; I am referring to those who stand on the streets and, by taking a small amount of money, cover the license plates of drivers who intend to break traffic laws and pass through traffic cameras without being caught. This profession has been named as one of the top ten strangest jobs in the world! Garbage collecting is also not seen in many countries in the same way as it exists in our country. Another example is the real estate and car brokers in Iran. Almost everywhere in the world, if you buy a car from a company and decide to sell it a month later, you will suffer a loss. But in our country, people buy brand new cars and make a profit by entering them into the brokerage market. The real estate market and its brokers have turned housing into a commodity

Thank you for the opportunity you have provided to the peace line.