Informal Waste Research Articles

Circular economy and household e-waste management in India. Part II: A case study on informal e-waste collectors (Kabadiwalas) in India

Rapid advances in electronics and telecommunications technologies have contributed significantly to making e-waste one of the largest and fastest-growing solid waste streams. India produces over 3.23 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Over 90% of the total e-waste generated in the country is processed by the informal waste management sector. Informal waste collectors in India are known as ‘kabadiwalas’. Many people in India employ their services to discard household solid waste items, including e-waste. However, the percentage of people disposing of their e-waste to kabadiwalas is unknown. Moreover, detailed research studies on kabadiwalas’ waste collection activities are very limited to date. A case study was therefore formulated to determine the likelihood of e-waste disposal to kabadiwalas and their solid waste collection strategies, including e-waste fraction. A global positioning system (GPS) based real-time waste collection route tracking method was employed. The results indicated that many people in India (∼45% of survey respondents) prefer to dispose of their e-waste to kabadiwalas. Based on the GPS tracking results, the informal waste collectors were found to travel considerable distances using manual and modified three-wheeler vehicles (20–30 km per day) to collect household waste, out of which e-waste accounted for about 10%. It was deduced that their large workforce and low operating costs enable them to collect e-waste from households all over the country effectively. The results from this study indicate that kabadiwalas play an integral role in the e-waste management system of India and that their integration into the existing formal e-waste industry could help establish improved e-waste management and value recovery operations in India.

Work-Related and Behavioral Characteristics of Formal and Informal Waste Collectors in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study assessed the work-related and behavioral characteristics of formal and informal waste collectors in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed for this study. 314 formal and 314 informal waste collection workers were sampled for the study using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-designed pretested questionnaire, observational checklists, clinical, laboratory measurements and a study guide. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 to analyze the data collected from respondents. The finding shows that at p = 0.05, the calculated chi-square value of 455.661 with the degree of freedom 92 was more than the critical chi-square value of 115.390. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted, which states a significant difference in the work-related and behavioral characteristics among formal and informal waste collectors in Rivers State. However, training and retraining the informal waste collectors, enforcing personal protective equipment, and counselling on using hard drugs will go a long way in arresting their poor behavior.

UPGRADING HERITAGE URBAN PUBLIC SPACES BY USING RECYCLING WASTE PLASTIC MATERIALS

In low-income countries, population expansion and urbanization bring challenges of inadequate living standards to the fore. Some of the issues could be solved if well-functioning plastic recycling systems were built. To reduce the environmental burden and improve the overall situation in dense cities, the already existing local informal waste treatment system, which is widespread in many low-income nations, needs to be developed with efficient sorting and composting solutions. A case study is carried out in the city of Mina, Lebanon, with the goal of establishing a viable decentralized recycling plastic pavilion material. The effort aims to lessen the climate harm caused by non-recycled waste, improve the quality of life for residents, and enhance the affected locations' aesthetical, educational, and recreational attributes. The concepts were generated according to the resident's needs and to find solutions to the existing problem of the area under study. The goals are based on data and observations about the city, the current waste management system, the stakeholders, the project organization, and any roadblocks. The project's overall work method is known as the Logical Framework Approach. It's a goal-oriented project planning method that relies on disciplined thinking and logical analysis. Literature review, observations, study visits, site analyses, photography, drawing, 3D modeling, and other sub-methods are included in the study. Proposals for plastic pavilions and plastic features for open public spaces in Al Mina are the result of the process. Because the areas have both comparable and dissimilar characteristics, site-specific solutions are required.

Energy production from municipal solid waste in low to middle income countries: a case study of how to build a circular economy in Abuja, Nigeria

The volume of municipal solid waste produced in many cities in low to middle income countries exceeds the capacity of handling facilities causing environmental and health risks. This study provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of municipal solid waste to energy options for Abuja, Nigeria. We use most recently available data on waste generation from Abuja municipal authorities, integrated with secondary data from the literature. This is combined with standard relationships between waste composition and energy production to compare the potential for thermochemical conversion and anaerobic digestion to meet the energy requirement of Abuja. In addition, we use assumptions about digestate production and nitrogen release to estimate the potential production of organic fertilizer from digestate. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste from Abuja [7.1 × 107(±4 × 106) kg y−1] has potential to produce 3.6 × 106(±2 × 105) m3y−1biogas. This could provide 7.8 × 103(±4 × 102) MWh y−1electricity, equivalent to 8% of annual electricity requirement in Abuja, 4.0 × 107(±2 × 106) MJ y−1heat, and 5.3 × 105(±3 × 104) kg y−1digestate use as bio-fertilizer from organic fraction only. Potential power generation by thermochemical conversion for combined heat and electricity is much greater, 7.73 × 104(±4 × 103) MWh y−1, equivalent to 83% of power requirement in Abuja, but does not produce bio-fertilizer. Using the organic fraction for anaerobic digestion and the remaining waste for thermochemical conversion provides combined heat and energy that is 91.5% of Abuja power requirements, while also producing digestate. Barriers to implementation include informal waste recyclers with poor collection and handling procedures, absence of public education, weak environmental policies and lack of funding. There is a need for periodic review of policies and waste legislation to create a circular economy in Abuja.

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.

A simplified material flow analysis employing local expert judgment and its impact on uncertainty

Material flow analysis (MFA) is an effective tool for waste management, but low- and middle-income countries lack essential data for MFA. This study proposed a simplified MFA (sMFA) utilizing local expert judgment (LEJ) and examining the impact of simplification on its uncertainty. A stochastic sMFA model was developed for nitrogen and phosphorus in urban Mandalay, Myanmar. This model was compared with the intensive MFA (iMFA) model employing intensive surveys for primary data collection. For the total loadings to the environment, the medians of the sMFA were higher by 3% and 11%, respectively, for nitrogen and phosphorus than those of the iMFA. The widths of the 80% confidence intervals of these loadings in the sMFA, normalized by those in the iMFA, were − 0.05 and − 0.11, respectively. The three largest flows to the environment were the same for the two models: on-site sanitation effluent/leakage, greywater, and industrial wastewater. Large median gaps between the models were observed for industrial wastewater, fecal sludge, and human excreta, associated with informal waste management, whereby LEJ did not work well. Overall, the sMFA demonstrated a good estimation of nitrogen and phosphorus flows with limited increase of uncertainty, still requiring focused attention on informal waste streams.Graphical abstract

Solid waste motor tricycle operators in Kumasi, Ghana, harbour respiratory pathogens; a public health threat.

The use of motor tricycles in transporting municipal solid waste (MSW) within urban and peri-urban towns in Ghana is on the increase. This activity often leads to the introduction of pathogen-containing bioaerosols into the environment, as well as to the tricycle operators. We sought to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of respiratory pathogens among solid waste tricycle operators. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 155 solid waste transporters who use motor tricycles using semi-structured interviews. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from participants and screened for respiratory pathogens using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Pathogens detected in participants were SARS-CoV-2 (n = 10, 6.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 10, 6.5%), constituting an overall prevalence of 12.9% and co-infection rate of 1.3%. The most common self-reported symptoms were cough (n = 67, 43.2%), sore throat (n = 44, 28.4%) and difficulty in breathing (n = 22, 14.2%). Adherence to the use of gloves (n = 117, 75.5%) and nose mask (n = 110, 71.0%) was high. There was a significant association between the detection of respiratory pathogens and the use of gloves, use of more than one PPE and exposure to other pollutants (p < 0.05). Individuals who were exposed to "other pollutants" significantly had lower odds of becoming infected with respiratory pathogens (Adj. OR (95% CI): 0.119(0.015,0.938). Although prevalence of respiratory pathogens is generally low, strict adherence to PPE use could further reduce its rates to even lower levels. Governmental health institutions and informal solid waste transporters should address challenges related to exposure to pollutants, use of gloves, and multiple PPE.

Urban informal waste recycling in Tehran: Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards health risks during recycling process

Urban informal waste recycling in Tehran: Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards health risks during recycling process

Informal plastic waste recycling firms in rural eastern India: Implications for livelihood and health

BackgroundIn India, a significant proportion of the total workforce encompasses the informal sector as their primary source of livelihood. However, one of the most severe difficulties in this informal sector is how to best work with them to improve their livelihoods, working conditions and efficiency. ObjectivesThis paper primarily intends to investigate the role of informal plastic waste recycling factories on workers' livelihoods. Further, it will assess the prevalence of self-reported health disorders with multiple responses and their predictors for recycling plastic factory workers (RFWs). MethodsThis is a cross-sectional survey of RFWs. Primary data was collected from one dominating plastic factory hub of Malda district, West Bengal, through purposive sampling from July to August 2021. Descriptive statistics and the relative risk ratio method were applied to fulfil the objectives. ResultsThe findings portray both the positive and negative implications of these factories. Despite the significant economic benefits, its informal working environment makes workers' health more vulnerable in the long run. Nearly 78% of factory workers are faced muscular pain as a prominent one. Further, statistical analysis indicated a substantial positive relationship between the magnitude of workers' health disorders with increasing years of work experience and demographic attributes (p < 0.05 and p < 0.10). ConclusionThese findings conclude that preserving economic growth and hazards remains a significant concern for policymakers. Also, there is an urgent need to formalise these informal factories while improving the living, working conditions, and efficiency of recycling factory workers.

COVID-19 related symptoms and vaccination usage among informal waste workers of Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction: About 56% of total population of Nepal have been fully immunized against COVID. But still foreign nationals and Informal Waste Workers (IWWs) outside of Nepal are struggling to get COVID vaccines. This study was intended to study the COVID-19 symptoms among IWWs of Kathmandu and the usage of vaccines by them.&#x0D; Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among 107 IWWs of Kathmandu Valley from Balku, Sanepa, Kalimati and Teku areas. A convenience sampling method was used to find the respondents based on their willingness to participate in the study. Face-to-face interview was conducted using structured questionnaire to collect data from IWWs.&#x0D; Results: A total of 53.3% males and 46.7% females participated in this study. Despite of majority of waste workers facing COVID related symptoms, only 19.6% of waste workers had done COVID test. Around 77.6% of waste workers hadn’t still taken COVID vaccine with majority (93.9 %) of them belonging to India.&#x0D; Conclusion: The majority of IWWs of Kathmandu are afraid to take COVID vaccine. Despite of having COVID related symptoms, IWWs haven’t gone for COVID test. Though interested, the IWWs needs identity cards for vaccination which counts less number of waste workers being vaccinated.

Livelihood and Sustainability of Informal Waste Workers in Kathmandu Valley: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry

Managing waste in growing urban cities is an increasing challenge day by day. Waste management is one of the basic essential services provided by local authorities and regulated bodies. Solid waste management includes collection, segregation, sorting, treatment, transportation, and final disposal. Along with the formal sector, the informal bodies are also active in Nepal. Informal waste workers are contributing to waste minimization and promoting environmental justice by involving in recycling activities. This study aimed to explore the five sustainable components (Human, Social, Physical, Financial, and Natural) of informal waste workers. The study was undertaken in the Kathmandu Valley by qualitative narrative inquiry. It was found that the income of informal waste workers varied, was unstructured, and was unpredictable. There is a need for the personal safety of waste workers to improve their quality of life. The study found that the workers are most vulnerable in terms of social capital, as they have poor relationships with their communities. It is important to incorporate them into the waste management system and acknowledge their contributions to the environment.

Informal E-waste Recycling and Related Challenges: Evidence from an Exploratory Survey in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

The informal electronic waste recycling sector is a major contributor to livelihoods for a large population of unemployed people in developing countries. However, informal e-waste collectors operate under precarious environments which expose them to health risks which may have lasting impacts on their wellbeing. This survey has analysed e-waste collection, levels of awareness and operational challenges amongst informal e-waste workers in Jos (Nigeria). The study made use of questionnaire-administered interviews and 103 respondents participated in the survey. Most respondents were predominantly men, and majority had high school and tertiary education. Reclaimed e-wastes included electric irons (59.6%) and cables (57.7%); DVDs (49%); as well as TV and radio sets (42.3%). Furthermore, respondents travelled longer distances to access various collection points and buyback centres where their recovered waste items are sold for income-generating purposes. However, respondents also mentioned several illnesses which afflict them, of which body pains (37%) and headaches (46%) were the most frequent. The survey found no statistically significant relationships between respondents in terms of their willingness to recycle e-wastes, participate in improved recycling activities, and the challenges experienced in their daily activities. To overcome some the operational challenges in the informal ewaste activities, a few recommendations have been mentioned.

Rag-Pickers as Benefactors and Beneficiaries of the Sustainable Development Goals: A Brief Literature Review

Ragpickers have long led a marginalised, subliminal and deprived existence, and have silently gone about contributing to ‘informal waste recycling’, diverting in many cities and towns, over half of the recyclable wastes from dumpsites to the technosphere. The reviewer has based this paper on 60 peer-reviewed publications spanning a time period of 28 years – from 1995 – 2022, originating from over a dozen different countries, and encompassing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The discussion has been structured around the six question words – Where/Wherefrom, When, How, What, Why and Who/Whom. While there is no claim of any addition per se being made to the extant body of knowledge, the reviewer would like to describe this as an attempt to simply collate existing knowledge to serve the practical purpose of highlighting the plight of our impoverished, malnourished, oppressed brethren, to elicit appreciation, understanding and support for them, from policymakers in government, CSR personnel from the corporate world, journalists in the media, and most importantly, from the common urban denizens. All these entities can work shoulder to shoulder with the NGOs who have been relentlessly striving to help the rag-pickers to ‘stay afloat’. The reviewer fondly hopes that this will motivate more concerted transdisciplinary applied research predicated on the Sustainable Development Goals – a collaboration among the disciplines of healthcare, sociology, psychology, urban planning, sustainable development, environmental engineering, and even art and poetry.

Waste governance and campus sustainability: formal and informal waste systems at football tailgates in Michigan

PurposeFootball tailgating is a focus of campus sustainability in the United States because it produces large amounts of waste. In states where recyclables can be redeemed for cash, this waste also is a resource for earning income. University officials face the challenge of encouraging proper waste disposal, cleaning up efficiently and coexisting productively with income-earning recyclers. This paper aims to understand how bridging formal and informal actors can yield improved campus waste management outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing the institutional analysis and development framework this study combines observational data throughout one football season with semi-structured interviews with informal recyclers, tailgaters and campus officials. Data are analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe case displays interaction between formal and informal waste management actors and between formal and informal rules of interaction. Campus officials have largely succeeded in encouraging proper waste management by tailgaters, who in turn loosely coordinate with income-earning recyclers under unwritten rules. Officials tolerate recyclers, but waste management could be improved with better communication and coordination and more trust between them. Many recyclers conduct their work with a sense of environmental stewardship that could support waste management efforts.Originality/valueUncoordinated coexistence between formal and informal waste management systems is common in the global South. With few studies in the global North, this is the first the authors know of in a campus sustainability context.

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.

Buzo Or Recycler: Waste Collecting as Gift Exchange in the Context of a New Waste Regime

Abstract The Dominican Republic (DR) experienced an economic boom related to tourism development over the last 30 years. Subsequently, consumption has increased, accompanied by an exponential growth in inorganic waste. Without adequate solid waste management, an environmental crisis has developed. Plastic waste litters roadsides, streets, streams, and beaches, threatening the very industry that enabled it. Informal waste collectors are on the front line of addressing, if not alleviating, the crisis but are regarded as marginal and inconsequential. A new waste regime is inevitable and imminent. Waste collectors are justifiably concerned that new systems may threaten their livelihoods. As such, they leverage their work, vis-à-vis a gift economy, to place themselves as essential to addressing the environmental crisis.

Assessing solid waste management practices in the Techiman municipality of Ghana and the potential of recycling for revenue mobilization and reduction of waste menace

There is increased municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in most municipalities across the globe. This study assessed the recycling potential and contribution of the informal sector to waste management in the Techiman municipality of Ghana. MSW was collected from 400 households for 10 continuous days and characterised. On average, 3.2 kg and 0.8 kg of MSW are generated per household and per person per day, respectively. The fractions of MSW were found to be 66.5% organics, 19.2% plastics, 3.3% paper, 3.2% metals, 1.6% leather and plastics, 0.9% glass, 0.6% textiles, 2.7% inert and 1.9% miscellaneous. Recycling potential for the Techiman municipality was found to be 29%, which means 29% of the respondents informally engage in recycling activities. The study also revealed that 33% of the respondents engage the services of the informal sector to dispose of their waste. Thirty-seven per cent (37%) of the respondents in the municipality dispose of their generated waste at various open designated sites, while 31% use public waste containers. The study further established that, incentives such as improved sanitation and financial rewards, free waste bins, among others, would greatly improve waste management. Also, formalisation and regulation of activities of the informal waste collectors can increase recycling and waste collection in the municipality.

E-waste in Vietnam: a narrative review of environmental contaminants and potential health risks.

Informal electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling activities contribute to releasing hazardous compounds in the environment and potential exposure to humans and their health. These hazardous compounds include persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. This review searched papers addressing hazardous compounds emitted from e-waste recycling activities and their health effects in Vietnam. Based on the keywords searched in three electronic databases (PubMed, Psych Info, and Google scholar), we found 21 relevant studies in Vietnam. The review identifies extensive e-waste dismantling activities in Vietnam in the northern region. To measure the environmental exposure to hazardous compounds, samples such as e-waste recycling workshop dust, soil, air, and sediments were assessed, while human exposure levels were measured using participants' hair, serum, or breast milk samples. Studies that compared levels of exposure in e-waste recycling sites and reference sites indicated higher levels of PBDEs, PCBs, and heavy metals were observed in both environmental and human samples from participants in e-waste recycling sites. Among environmental samples, hazardous chemicals were the most detected in dust from e-waste recycling sites. Considering both environmental and human samples, the highest exposure difference observed with PBDE ranged from 2-48-fold higher in e-waste processing sites than in the reference sites. PCBs showed nearly 3-fold higher levels in e-waste processing sites than in reference sites. In the e-waste processing sites, age-specific higher PCB levels were observed in older recycler's serum samples. Among the heavy metals, Pb was highly detected in drinking water, indoor soil and human blood samples. While high detection of Ni in cooked rice, Mn in soil and diet, Zn in dust and As in urine were apparent. Exposure assessment from human biomonitoring showed participants, including children and mothers from the e-waste processing areas, had higher carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks than the reference sites. This review paper highlights the importance of further comprehensive studies on risk assessments of environmentally hazardous substances and their association with health outcomes at e-waste processing sites.

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.

What counts as infrastructural labour? Community action as waste work in South Africa

ABSTRACT Studies of waste work have largely focused on labourers who collect and process materials in exchange for money, including informal waste reclaimers and those now working precariously due to neoliberalization. Researchers have also drawn attention to who sorts waste in and beyond the household. Here we examine voluntary clean-ups as well as waste education in South Africa. State discourse encourages people to engage with the wastescape without framing this participation as work. Yet such engagements require people to act, and changing existing practices and expectations of who does what (and who is paid what) to make waste flow. We argue that understanding such activities as infrastructural helps to explain how the state seeks to enrol citizens into waste configurations, and understanding them as labour enables more capacious politics and claims to waste’s value.