These risks can be minimized by excluding unauthorized persons from the site. This includes waste pickers and the dealers who drive onto dumps. This dump in Guatemala is home to 2,000 families. There is a conflict between the needs of these people and efficient and safe management of a landfill. Experience in developing countries has shown that it is not possible to exclude pickers from landfill sites.
Compromises are possible through promoting other options for pickers and buyers.
It is preferable that waste picking occur at transfer stations or at the household level. Transfer stations are located closer to the city and are therefore more accessible to pickers. It is also easier to monitor waste picking at transfer stations. In the absence of pickers, landfill operations can proceed without interruption and with a reduced risk of injury to members of the public. If pickers nevertheless persist at landfills, licensing and cooperation between pickers and municipal staff can help to minimize problems.