Living off waste: A qualitative study of scrap scavengers in Ethiopia

Scrap metal and plastic collection is a prominent informal economic activity that offers employment opportunities for unemployed youth in Kombolcha town, Wollo, Ethiopia, without formal entry requirements. Despite its significance, this area has received little scholarly attention from social work and anthropological perspectives. This study seeks to fill that gap by exploring the economic prospects and social challenges associated with scrap and plastic collection in the region. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through observations, key informant and in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with collectors, middlemen, municipal workers, and community members. Purposive sampling was used, and thematic analysis guided the interpretation of findings. Results indicate that scrap metal and plastic collection provides a viable livelihood, with daily earnings often exceeding the minimum monthly wage of formal sector workers. However, collectors face numerous social challenges, including hazardous working conditions, lack of insurance, long hours, transport difficulties, security issues, product scarcity, and price volatility. While the sector offers a dignified source of income, the conditions remain barely sufficient to meet basic needs. The study recommends the implementation of inclusive policies and regulations to enhance the livelihoods of those engaged in such informal work. A bottom-up policy formation approach is essential to strengthen their capacities, expand their choices, and promote sustainable, diversified livelihoods. • Provides a qualitative study of scrap metal and plastic scavengers in Ethiopia. • Reveals how informal waste collection sustains marginalized youths' livelihoods. • Identifies risks: unsafe conditions, lack of protection, and social exclusion. • Shows informal collectors' role in waste recovery and urban environmental health. • Recommends policy support to integrate scavengers into sustainable waste systems.