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population and recovers up to 20 per cent of municipal waste
(Gunsilius, 2010). The drivers may not only be waste and pollution,
but also unemployment and poverty. The informal sector is able to
achieve high recovery rates (up to 80 per cent) because sourcing
recyclable materials is critical for waste pickers’ livelihoods.
However, informal waste pickers tend not to adhere to acceptable
environment standards and informal sorting and recycling
practices often disposes of waste directly into the environment
(Gunsilius, 2010).Waste pickers oftenwork in extremely dangerous
conditions and are exposed to contaminated and toxic materials.
Child labour is common, and life expectancy can be very low.
Waste pickers are often socially excluded and economically
marginalized, and among the most vulnerable groups in society.
Their incomes are susceptible to fluctuations in themarket value of
recyclable material. Where waste pickers organize themselves into
cooperatives, fixed wages can lead tomarket distortions and a lack
of incentive for collection and sorting.
Informal waste pickers suffer from a lack of recognition and can
be marginalized when municipalities seek to modernize waste
management – the focus often shifts to efficient collection and
disposal, rather the than recovery and recycling of waste, denying
access to waste resources. Many waste pickers are now forming
organizations and cooperatives, to gain recognition, negotiate
with municipalities and lobby for inclusive waste management
models (WIEGO, 2013; Ezeah et al., 2013). There are cases in Asian
and Latin American countries where waste pickers’ organizations
and cooperatives have become regular partners with municipal
governments and private sector enterprises (Gunsilius, 2010).
The extent of formal and informal approaches to waste
management (by waste pickers) in more remote mountain
regions depends on localized economic incentives. In many
cases, insufficient quantities of recyclable waste are generated to
make recycling a profitable and economically viable enterprise,
and might discourage informal work. Other factors such as high
transportation costs associated with more remote mountain
areas could also affect prices and make collecting sellable
materials less economically viable. Furthermore, harsh climates
may increase the costs of sorting waste.
Informal recycling in Thailand.
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Shutterstock/toowaret