Informal Waste Pickers Research Articles

Empirical research on decent work and precarious work for semi-skilled and unskilled blue-collar workers: A scoping review

Recognising that many workers worldwide often face poverty and exploitation, the International Labour Organisation aims to promote decent and productive work opportunities for all. We conducted a scoping review to get an overall view of current academic literature on decent work and precarious work for samples of blue-collar workers. The studies included in this review, focused on empirical research conducted from 2006 onwards, that primarily investigated decent work or precarious work among semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers. The review team used a data-charting form and collected information from thirty-five articles. Most recent studies (2020–2023) were related to the experiences and livelihoods of non-traditional blue-collar workers namely platform drivers and informal waste pickers. Before 2020, the most commonly studied theme related to the experiences of migrant workers. The findings shed light on the experiences of these workers, particularly in South Africa and India and provide valuable insight into their work experiences for further discussion.

Network power and exclusion of informal waste pickers when plastic flows change: A case study of community waste banks in Klaten Municipality in Indonesia

Countries, like Indonesia, without advanced waste management systems and with higher levels of population and consumption growth, face particular challenges in addressing plastic waste and marine pollution. To address and prevent plastic marine pollution, Indonesia introduced mitigation initiatives, such as Extended Producer Responsibility, waste banks, and take back schemes. While recent research shows such approaches are able to prevent marine litter, research into their social and equity effects is scarce. This is problematic, because mitigation initiatives can have in- and exclusion effects in terms of access to valuable waste for vulnerable, informal waste actors. This article combines the sociology of network and flows with a network power typology to study how the implementation of waste banks in Klaten Municipality, Indonesia not only led to reduction in plastic pollution, but also the exclusion of cartmen, waste pickers and mobile intermediates from waste networks and thus from accessing these valuable waste flows. A waste bank is a community based business that provides households with additional income and turns household waste into economically valuable materials by trading them with recyclers. In doing so they outcompete a vulnerable group like waste pickers. Instead of waste pickers, households become part of the plastic waste networks. In addition to assessing environmental effects of (marine) plastic pollution mitigation initiatives, more scholarly attention should go towards assessing the in- and exclusion dynamics around different plastic mitigation initiatives. The sociology of network and flows is a useful lens through which to examine these in- an exclusion effects.

A Novel Proposal for an Adapted Vehicle for Informal Waste Pickers in Ambato – Ecuador

Solid waste management represents a challenge for contemporary cities because it involves various levels of management and processing. At the base of the recycling pyramid, the crucial role of informal recyclers stands out, whose work improves the environmental conditions of cities. Despite its valuable contribution, informality has marked this profession, with deplorable working conditions at a social and economic level and low occupational safety. Recyclers roam the city in search of as much recyclable material as possible, so they can later sell it and continue the chain. However, the operational process of the recyclers is striking due to the inadequate conditions, in terms of personal protection and mobilization. Traditionally, they move with a cart, a product intended for transporting heavy loads over short distances. However, it is used by waste pickers to travel long distances during the daily working day. Through the methodology of early and continuous validation for product design, a vehicle adapted for the work of informal recyclers in the city of Ambato is proposed. It shows a valuable vision of addressing management in an inclusive, effective way for the city, with adequate working conditions at the operational level for waste pickers.

Financing mechanism for solid waste management in Anambra, Nigeria: analyses of emerging challenges and implication for circular economy.

Waste management is a critical public service provided by municipalities around the world. It is often problematic, inefficient, and abysmally performed in developing countries. Among the problems associated with waste management in these global locations is the issue of finance. Finance is required for both capital investment and operational costs. Methods of waste management financing differ from place to place due to cultural, political, and socio-economic peculiarities. Understanding these conditionalities is necessary to be able to proffer sustainable solutions. Despite these facts, there is limited comprehensive and relevant academic literature on waste management financing mechanisms in developing countries both in the past and recent times. This work addresses a significant gap in the literature by studying the mechanism for waste management financing in developing countries using Anambra State, Nigeria, as a case study. The current study further investigated the associated challenges and opportunities and made critical discussions on the implications on the circular economy. User fees and subsidies from the government are the major financing sources. The absence of cost-revenue model analysis, economic and institutional volatility, the unwillingness of the service users to pay fees, and lack of transparency are major challenges to the financial sustainability of waste management in the studied context. The creation of incentives for behavioral changes, adoption of neo-liberal policies, and formal integration of informal waste pickers are factors that can minimize the cost of waste management services while promoting a circular economy.

The contribution of global waste picker organizations in responding to the plastic pollution crisis

Abstract The world is facing a global plastics crisis with more than 50% of plastics produced only being used once and then discarded. If nothing is done to put an end to plastic pollution, it is projected that by 2050, there will be more plastic (by weight) than fish in the ocean, affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity and human health. While solutions often target governments and corporations, a crucial group is frequently ignored: informal waste pickers. Despite the limitations of recycling alone, waste pickers significantly impact the plastic recycling chain. This review addresses the gap in our understanding of their role. It argues that waste pickers are an essential component of the larger portfolio of solutions for the plastic crisis but face significant challenges.

Health and Safety Risks Among Informal Solid Waste Pickers in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar Es Salaam Region, Tanzania

Waste pickers in Dar Es Salaam play a great role in managing wastes, however; their health and safety status is not documented with certainty. The objective of the study was to assess the health and safety risks among informal solid waste pickers. The study deployed interview and questionnaire to collect data. The study revealed that most waste pickers are poor and marginalized social groups. The health and safety status of waste pickers is affected by long working hours, repetitive movement for picking waste, walking long distances carrying heavy bags of recyclables, and working on hazardous environments without personal protective gears. The most common health and safety risks were musculoskeletal diseases, accidents and injuries. The waste pickers' vulnerability to the hazards is exacerbated by inadequate awareness on health and safety problems, lack of personal protective equipment and medical insurances. Formal recognition of waste pickers, educational support on health and safety including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical insurances are needed to lessen their exposure to various risks. The government and private sector are encouraged to invest in waste recycling activities which create employment opportunities while protecting the environment. At the same time, they should pay attention to waste pickers who, despite the challenges they face, form an integral part on successful recycling activities.

Informal waste pickers in guayaquil: Recycling rates, environmental benefits, main barriers, and troubles

Systems for managing municipal solid waste are typically ineffective in developing nations because of governments' deficient financial and administrative frameworks, poor rules, and a lack of suitable infrastructure and human resources. The informal sector plays an essential role in these systems by reprocessing waste into secondary raw materials, reducing collection and disposal costs, and, most importantly, benefiting the environment by avoiding incineration and landfilling. However, their actual contributions remain unknown. The present paper aims to understand the role of informal waste pickers (IWPs) in the waste management system of Guayaquil City and their environmental impact through the calculations of the carbon footprint (CF) avoided due to their aid. The survey design gathered information on their personal profiles, types, and rates of collected recyclables, market conditions, their main barriers, and troubles regarding their formalization. The results of the survey demonstrate that waste picking is mostly a male-driven activity, the average daily mass collected per IWP is 13 kg, the most collected recyclable waste is polyethylene terephthalate, their average monthly income is $179, and the total avoided CF of the entire informal waste picking process is almost 14 thousand tons of CO2 eq yearly. Further, IWPs prefer to operate alone, and only 16% of them would join a cooperative, despite their numerous financial, logistical, and personal challenges.

The societal strength of transition: a critical review of the circular economy through the lens of inclusion

ABSTRACT Realizing a circular economy (CE) has been widely recognized by practitioners and researchers as the key to the transition toward sustainability. Thus far the academic emphasis has been predominantly on economic and environmental aspects. However, the development and implementation of CE initiatives actually rely on extensive collaboration at the societal level. Hence, an understanding of how a more inclusive society can strengthen the transition is warranted. By systematically and critically reviewing the related academic literature, the results of this paper show that sensitivity to inclusion aspects is crucial to alleviate the transitional burdens on society. Seven main aspects were discerned on inclusion: (1) informal waste pickers, (2) e-waste and health risks, (3) accessibility of services/materials/facilities, (4) consumer behavior, (5) corporate and institutional involvement, (6) technology application, and (7) governance measures. Following these insights, a strong sustainability perspective and agenda on the CE transition are proposed by identifying key actors and structuring their interrelationships as an inclusive system.

Helping Eco Warriors Find Their Own Voices

Abstract Worldwide, informal waste collectors (IWCs) experience discrimination, stigma, and sometimes harassment (Bulla et al., 2021). They rely on their own social networks to ply their “trade” and converse well with people with whom they have personal or business relations. Beyond this small network, IWCs do not usually need to talk to other people. Philippine-based social enterprise Project Zacchaeus (PZC) aimed to transform 60 IWCs into “Eco Warriors” in a program equipping IWCs with a variety of skills. The goal was to empower these IWCs to lead their families and communities and serve as role models to adjacent barangays. The authors explore the contrast between the mostly timid informal waste pickers and the grantee’s vision for them as leaders and effective communicators for environmental awareness. We describe the challenges in the ambitious undertaking, Caceres’s training contributions, and the gradual transformation of shy informal waste pickers into more confident, empowered Eco Warriors.

Perspectives of informal street waste pickers in Loja-Ecuador

Waste pickers contribute to country environmental and sustainability goals, and yet they are a marginalised and precarious group that requires further research. Using a case study design of informal waste pickers in Loja-Ecuador, representatives from waste picker associations, recycling warehouses, and public agencies were interviewed about the dynamics of informal recycling in this city. In addition, street level waste pickers were interviewed to understand their difficulties. The data obtained were complemented by participant observation of the recycling work on the street. The results show that in the city of Loja, two types of waste pickers coexist —associated and non-associated—, those who are associated obtain higher profits although the main perceived benefit is to carry out the activity under the authority’s consent. Likewise, it was found that waste recovery is the main income source for most of the families engaged in this activity, however, the income generated varies by gender. Furthermore, the majority of waste pickers are women who, along with children and the elderly, are disadvantaged as compared with their male counterparts in performing this activity. Competition for recyclable material among waste pickers was cited as the main problem. The findings provide the basis for constructing an inclusive urban development process that considers the work of waste pickers within the framework of a popular and solidarity economy.

The Role of Informal Waste Management in Urban Metabolism: A Review of Eight Latin American Countries

Social and spatial segregation structures in Latin America are perceived as processes for the selective concentration of social or demographic groups in geographic sectors of the city. This voluntary or forced segregation creates poor, wealthy, and marginal areas, leading to the territory’s marginalization and fragmentation, destroying the symbolic and territorial urban continuity. To understand the behavior of waste pickers in a Mexican city, we sought to know the conditions of the informal collection activity in eight Latin American countries with similar conditions. Therefore, the goal was to carry out a bibliographic evaluation that included the environmental contribution of waste pickers, their organizations, and their link with urban metabolism. The tasks performed by informal waste pickers in the cities of the eight selected Latin American countries, their organizations, and their way of working were studied. Their role in reducing environmental impact and improving the quality of life of city dwellers was evaluated. Web sites, web searches, and face-to-face meetings created electronic communication channels with this community were analyzed. In some cases, they are well organized and become microentrepreneurs with salary, social security, and economical insurance by starting an ecological business. In contrast, marginal groups seeking economic support collect, separate, sort, and group recoverable waste daily and sell it at waste distribution points. This link in the urban metabolism reintroduces valuable solid waste into the production chain. In addition, materials with commercial value, such as metals, plastics, paper, cardboard, and wood, can re-enter the production chain as secondary materials for industry. Thus, a collective of well-organized waste pickers contributes to the city’s sustainability and provides better living conditions for the waste pickers. In Mexico, there is a lack of official information regarding the number of waste pickers, organizations, activities, and their environmental contribution. Therefore, a directory with that information is highly relevant to designing public policies to recognize the essential contributions of this sector.

Working with Waste: Hazards and Mitigation Strategies Used by Waste Pickers in the Inner City of Durban.

Informal waste pickers in cities across the Global South divert significant amounts of tonnage from landfills. This diversion contributes towards a sustainable environment and better public health practices. Informal workers globally derive livelihoods from collecting, sorting, and selling recyclable waste. In South Africa, there is growing recognition of the valuable work that waste pickers carry out. Despite this, however, these informal workers remain largely unrecognised, are often stigmatised, and suffer from a lack of social protection linked to their work. This lack of recognition and protection creates specific occupational hazards for waste pickers. Using an ethnographic method, this study explores the physical and socio-psychological hazards that emerge from waste picking on the streets of the inner city of Durban, in South Africa. We found that the waste pickers, the majority of whom were women, developed mitigation strategies against these risks. A better understanding of how the occupational hazards of waste picking are shaped by the local context of working on the street enables the recognition of the knowledge waste pickers already hold regarding mitigation strategies. Insight into occupational hazards are important to consider if the municipal integration of waste pickers is to happen in a way that ensures access to social protections for these informal workers.

Leaving No One behind in Healthy Ageing: A Unique Sub-Group, the "Cardboard Grannies of Hong Kong".

The older adult population in Hong Kong is large and diverse. The “Cardboard Grannies” in Hong Kong are informal waste pickers (IWPs) who represent a unique sub-group that is often forgotten in society. This group has unique social and economic conditions and contributions that are not monitored and recognized. Leaving no one behind in healthy ageing requires an understanding of the needs and contributions of those on the margins of society, like older adult IWPs. This study answers two main research questions: (i) what are the service needs of the older adult IWPs and (ii) what are their contributions (social impact)? Qualitative methods were used to collect data from the older adult IWPs and key informants. Thematic analysis and word clouds were used to analyse the data. Nine themes were identified, providing relevant and significant insight into the service needs of the older adult IWPs. Two themes were identified, providing insight into the contributions (social impact) of the older adult IWPs. These themes inform recommendations that cover a range of individual, family, and community service responses to address healthy ageing of this unique sub-group.

Extrapolating the Links Between the MNE’s Activities and UN SDGs In Developing Countries

In this study, we focus on SDGs 10 and 12, namely, reducing inequalities and sustainable consumption and production, and analyze the MNEs' operationalization of waste management strategies with formal and informal waste pickers in Brazil. The findings suggest that whilst institutional voids impede MNEs from implementing SDGs, uncertainty in the institutional context can enable opportunities to modify the weak institutions and support the advancement of SDGs. Furthermore, MNEs are observed as institutional entrepreneurs and engage in transgression of existing rules via three steps - delineating institutional boundaries, strategizing for implementation of SDGs, and adopting transgressions both within HQ-subsidiary structures and host countries (stretching and buffering).

A conceptual method to research in social systems focused to informal waste pickers

The viability of society depends on its ability to manage and maintain its common resources. It is important to find strategies that harmonize their use and access in order to maintain an optimum rate of combined extraction and consumption of resources, as well as to fortify social capital under a variability of cultural and social contexts. Three scenarios have been proposed with regard to the management of common resources; we propose there are differentiated by characteristics that demarcate the grade of conservation of the resources. With respect to the management of byproducts from urban solid wastes that informal waste pickers make in the dumps, throughout 20 years working on the subject, we concluded that the appropriation of materials in these social systems follow the same patterns as in natural systems. So we propose to use the theory of access to common resources, since we consider it is possible to utilize this methodology to model management scenarios that contribute to the understanding of the appropriation of materials at dumps, as well to propose strategies in order to improve the management of solid wastes and the welfare of the informal waste pickers. Under the premise that the handling and appropriation of solid wastes, which is done by the informal waste pickers is characteristic to the use of resources of common property, the theoretical integration of the investigation should undertake why solid wastes should be considered as resources and in what general conditions is the handling of these resources that are found in all countries where informal waste pickers occur.

Livelihood Status and Health Condition of Waste Pickers in Sylhet City Corporation: A Study

Urban poor are engaged in waste picking in the city areas of Bangladesh, as it requires no skills and experience. Though several studies have been conducted on waste management, the livelihood of waste pickers remains unexplored. So, this study has been undertaken to investigate the livelihood and health status of the informal waste pickers living in the Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh using the five capitals of the sustainable livelihood framework. To achieve the study objectives, at first, purposively selected one hundred waste pickers were surveyed. Then, to substantiate quantitative data gathered by the survey, ten in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion (FGD) were conducted. This study found that the vulnerabilities of waste pickers in the city area are the consequences of their poor education and lack of skills, lower earnings, miserable living and working conditions, lower social status, and no access to social services. In addition, they face chronic injuries and occupational health risks, but they are not aware of this. As a result, they cannot maintain a standard of living by their efforts. So, Government and non-government organisations should recognise their contribution and take necessary steps for improving their livelihood and health status.

'Wasters, agnostics, enforcers, competitors, and community integrators': Reclaimers, S@S, and the five types of residents in Johannesburg, South Africa

• In Johannesburg, reclaimers have not been integrated into separation at source (S@S) • Un-integrated S@S forces residents to make a political choice to include reclaimers. • Residents as: wasters, agnostics, enforcers, community integrators, and competitors. • Without integration, S@S acts as a disintegration project for reclaimers. Within South Africa’s recycling economy, informal waste pickers (also known as reclaimers) generate immense value for local waste management systems by diverting waste from landfills. However, official municipal separation at source (S@S) programmes, that task residents with sorting recyclables from their waste for separate collection, have failed to integrate reclaimers’ unofficial collection system. This dislocates reclaimers, forcing them to work on the margins of municipal S@S programmes and forge separate links with residents to maintain access to recyclables. Drawing on extensive qualitative research in Johannesburg, South Africa, this article reflects on how residents in three different residential neighbourhoods understood and interacted with reclaimers’ unofficial collection system and the official S@S programme run by the city. Our findings suggest that five types of residents emerge: wasters (who did not see the value in recycling), agnostics (who did not care who collected their recyclables), enforcers (who actively prevented reclaimers from accessing recyclables), community integrators (who gave their materials to reclaimers); and competitors (who supplemented their own income by selling recyclables). We argue that residents and reclaimers play active roles in shaping official S@S on the ground, and cannot be ignored when developing S@S programmes. Furthermore, S@S and integration are inherently related, as they each target the same residents and the same recyclables, and therefore cannot be understood or addressed in isolation. Unless a specific commitment is made to integrate S@S, S@S becomes a reclaimer dis-integration programme. These findings have broad implications for how S@S should be conceptualised, designed, and implemented.

Economic status of waste pickers in Bantar Gebang compared to other workers in Indonesia

This study reviews the current income level of waste pickers to provide insights that will help determine adequate wage levels for recyclers in a potential integrated waste management system. The Bantar Gebang landfill of Bekasi City in West Java (a province of Indonesia) has been selected as the survey site. The landfill is operated not unlike an open dumpsite due to poor management, and informal waste pickers actively collect waste on the site. Therefore, this case is an excellent starting point from which to explore the income levels of waste pickers. The analysis is based on qualitative data obtained from an 890-day field survey and quantitative data from structured interviews with 156 residents from 78 households between February 2010 and March 2020. The results show that the average monthly household income of waste pickers was IDR 2,401,697.7 (US$ 197.0). The waste pickers’ income per person (IDR 1,200,848.9) was below that of all industries and occupations in the formal and informal sectors. Even the income per person of independent waste pickers (IDR 1,800,023.8), who had the highest average income, was below the legal minimum wage (IDR 2,250,000). When there was more than one worker in the household, the income per capita was lower than the legal minimum wage; however, when there was only one worker in the household (where the household income corresponds to the individual income), the income per capita was at the same level as the legal minimum wage.

Men and women waste pickers on landfills in Johannesburg, South Africa: divergence in health, and socioeconomic status.

To investigate gender differences in health in informal waste pickers affected by poverty and multiple environmental and work hazards. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at two major landfill sites in a large city. Information on health, work hazards and health care access as well as blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and BMI were measured. A total of 361 waste pickers participated in the survey. The women interviewed earned on average 22% less per month than the men waste pickers. The women presented with worse chronic health outcomes (OR 2.69 95% CI 1.51-4.78) and signs of chronic disease (OR 1.73 95% CI 1.02-2.96) compared to men despite showing greater health-seeking behaviours. Women waste pickers suffer worse health outcomes, such as lifestyle diseases and HIV. Further research is needed to identify the factors involved. Responsive programs supporting health care, improved working conditions and income for waste pickers may also improve their health.

Recycling of municipal solid waste in India: Empirical findings from some select colonies in Delhi

The growing volume of municipal waste has become a serious challenge for urban local bodies in Indian cities. The non-segregation of waste at the source is one of the main reasons for the low percentage of municipal waste being recycled. Drawing the data from a semi-structured questionnaire-based survey of 100 households and informal interviews with different stakeholders, this study explores the waste segregation and waste minimization behaviour of residents of Delhi and the role of ragpickers in the recycling of waste. The study reveals that the main reasons for the non-segregation of waste are lack of awareness and facilities and a high level of skepticism whether source segregation would solve the problem if waste is not collected and transported separately. The study also shows that although 83% of respondents were aware of different colours of dustbins, only a small percentage of respondents know about or practise their correct usage. We argue that while creating awareness and providing infrastructure facilities are important, it is more effective to recalibrate our policy in such a way that it integrates the informal waste pickers in the recycling process, and incentivizes those who reduce and segregate their waste and discourages the defaulters.