Two waste collectors detained in police raid to Istanbul warehouse

Two waste collectors were detained in a raid to a warehouse in Istanbul's Ümraniye district on Oct. 4. 

Working outside of the state recycling system, waste collectors in Turkey roam the streets with carts that they fill up with recyclables. 

Police and the collectors clashed at the warehouse, and officers deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd. 

Waste collectors set their carts on fire in protest of the police raid, and fire department arrived at the scene. 

Municipal vehicles were damaged in the brawl that erupted when police arrived at the warehouse on orders from the Istanbul Governor's Office to remove the waste collectors. 

Waste collectors threw rocks at the officers in protest. 

Despite the crucial role they play in the recycling sector, waste collectors are excluded from Turkey’s environmental legislation. As a result, their profession is not recognized legally, which puts them at the mercy of Turkish authorities.

Municipalities often consider waste pickers a problem, with sometimes municipal authorities banning their activities.