Cancún climate change summit: Waste-pickers demand right to world's rubbish

The Global Alliance of Wastepickers and Allies demonstrate at the Palace Hotel in Cancún, Mexico, on the first Friday of the climate summit Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

This dump in Managua, Nicaragua, supports hundreds of families. Waste-pickers worldwide say they will lose their only form of income if this landfill material is burnt in incinerators as proposed Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

A waste-picker carries a bag of salvaged items from the main landfill site in Managua, Nicaragua Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

Cardboard, appliances and spare parts, as well as scrap metals and plastics are recycled by waste-pickers Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

A city worker spreads and compacts waste at Managua's central dump Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

Fifty million people worldwide depend on rubbish dumps to earn a few dollars a week Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

A waste-picker in Managua, Nicaragua Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

Waste-pickers leave Managua's dump after a day foraging through the city's rubbish Photograph: Esteban Felix/AP

The Global Alliance of Wastepickers and Allies protest at the Cancún climate change summit Photograph: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images