Toxins released from burning plastic can “disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions” and lead to cancer, heart disease, and many more serious health conditions, according to the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“And I, of course, deal with the dust and smoke and the burning,” said Abu Ajwa, “this all goes into your lungs and makes you cough all night. It’s exhausting. It wears you out completely. The work is tough—not easy. It’s fire, and we all got burned here. We’ve all been burned by this fire.”

Making hard sacrifices, for the greater good of everyone.