Role and size of informal sector in waste management – a review

The contribution of informal activities is per definition difficult to estimate as informal waste reclaimers have no inherent reason, obligations or simply not the capabilities to keep records. As ‘formal’ (official) performance data do not usually cover informal systems, official statistics (if even available) do not reflect the bigger picture of waste management in low-income countries. Data on informal sector waste management performance is important in policy-making and enforcement but also with respect to advocacy and visibility of informal systems. In many cases the informal workers are not recognised in having a key role in waste management systems and are running the risk of losing their livelihoods in modernisation processes. This paper aspires to bring together a large amount of research in this area and to compile research outcomes, mainly from the last decade, aimed at providing key parameters for initial appraisals in waste management planning or monitoring purposes. Key parameters include data on the size of the informal sector in different regions, amounts of materials collected daily, estimates of the contribution of informal work to recycling rates and data on livelihood aspects such as income and job creation potential.