The project has transformed the lives of many individual waste pickers who have participated in the project or were benefited by a capacity building activity. Through these and the interactions between project members, many of us and particularly the waste pickers have become strongly empowered, helping these individuals to emancipate themselves from oppressive structures. Many waste pickers became leaders in the National Waste Pickers Movement and thus were able to influence policy on a much broader scale. The voices of these participants have impacted decision making and policy design. Some of their outreach has made a difference in local waste governance, generating public policies for inclusive waste management and obtaining funding for new projects.