The Forgotten History of Ragpickers and Their Contribution to Waste Management

A ragpicker (also spelled "rag picker" or "rag-picker") is a person who collects and sells rags, which are pieces of cloth that have been discarded or are no longer needed. Ragpickers often collect these rags from trash dumps, garbage cans, and other sources, and then sort and clean them to sell to companies that use them for various purposes, such as making paper products, cleaning rags, or other industrial uses.

In the past, ragpickers were an important part of many cities' waste management systems, as they helped to collect and process discarded materials that would otherwise have been left on the streets or in landfills. However, with the advent of modern waste management practices and technologies, the role of the ragpicker has largely disappeared in many parts of the world.

The term "ragpicker" is often used metaphorically to describe someone who collects and sells items of little value, or who scavenges for resources that others have discarded. It can also be used to describe someone who is resourceful and able to find value in things that others have overlooked or discarded.