Formalization of Informal Recycling in Low-Income Countries

Recycling in high income countries is a green business opportunity performed in a formal setting, especially with large scale material recovery and recycling facilities. This is different to informal recycling in low-income countries, where recycling is more of an economic activity than environmental cleaning, and is largely handled by unorganized groups or individuals known as ‘informal sector.’ Informal approach of recycling on one hand contributes to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability through social capital building, while managing the waste. However, use of primitive waste handling technologies on the other hand often misrepresents recycling as polluting industry. Unorganised and unregulated nature of the informal waste sector often characterizes it as a nuisance than a legitimate stakeholder. This chapter reviews in detail the characteristics of informal recycling sector, with selected cases from Asia. It also analyzes the possibilities and challenges for integration of informal sector into the formal waste management system.