Could this be your grandma?
In Korean cities, it seems all recycling collection from apartments is done by the elderly. The typical process involves methodical sorting of materials into one or more rickshaw-like carts. The materials are hauled to nearby material recovery facilities, where they are sorted into large piles and sold by weight. It's difficult to imagine much prosperity in such an occupation; it's even more difficult to imagine why this task seems left up to the functioning elderly. Society has put these people into a situation of need, and considering their skill sets, age, and physical abilities, there are probably not many high paying jobs available to them. Some claim this to be a product of a changing familial trend in Korea. Traditionally, the eldest son is responsible for the care taking of his parents, living with them through their last years. Systematically, this is a problem if there are no children, or the eldest son lacks means to handle such a responsibility. It could also be a product of gentrification from the rapid expansion of Seoul, leaving manual laborers out of work. Or, maybe these individuals believe idle hands do the devil's work.
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