This was never the plan for the 64-year-old, who has spent many a time dreaming of a much more comfortable way to earn a living, such as selling ice-cream under the merciful shade of a roof.

“I want to do business but I don’t have any capital. Nothing big, it would be enough to just sell ice-cream in front of my home.”

But life has been tough for her and her family, and this has driven Zaidah to want to stand on her own two feet by selling recyclable materials to make ends meet. Her children, who contribute to household expenses, don’t want her to earn money this way.

“I can’t always be relying on my children,” she tells FMT, adding she does not like to be a burden on others, preferring to be independent.

The mother-of-four leaves her home at 6am everyday to look for rubbish. “If I leave (the house) late, I won’t get anything because others are also looking for rubbish to recycle.”

Her life was not always like this. Some 15 years ago, she worked as a cleaner at a private company before being retrenched. She has not held a steady job since.

Now, depending on her luck, she earns between RM5 to RM20 a day, and spends RM2 on petrol for her old motorcycle which she uses to find and carry rubbish.

Her days are not without challenges as there have been many times where she has had small accidents including falling off her motorcycle or being chased by stray dogs.

“Getting chased by dogs is normal, I have fallen down many times. Once, I even fell into a drain,” she said.

Although her children don’t agree with her picking up trash as a source of income, she insists on doing it her way. But Zaidah hopes her children will never have to do what she does to earn a living.