Cecile Ronfot
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/ 7 June 2005

Dakar’s rubbish scavengers proclaim their pride

The ground is a sea of trash; the stench almost unbearable. Yet Pape Ndiaye, who speaks for the hundreds of scavengers who comb the vast garbage dump at Mbeubeuss, near Dakar, Senegal, is proud of his work — which, he says, allows him to retain his dignity. About 1 000 people grind a living from this mountain of rubbish spread over three hectares.