title: An analytical framework and tool ('InteRa') for integrating the informal recycling sector in waste and resource management systems in developing countries.
abstract: In low- and middle-income developing countries, the informal (collection and) recycling sector (here abbreviated IRS) is an important, but often unrecognised, part of a city's solid waste and resources management system. Recent evidence shows recycling rates of 20-30% achieved by IRS systems, reducing collection and disposal costs. They play a vital role in the value chain by reprocessing waste into secondary raw materials, providing a livelihood to around 0.5% of urban populations. However, persisting factual and perceived problems are associated with IRS (waste-picking): occupational and public health and safety (H&S), child labour, uncontrolled pollution, untaxed activities, crime and political collusion. Increasingly, incorporating IRS as a legitimate stakeholder and functional part of solid waste management (SWM) is attempted, further building recycling rates in an affordable way while also addressing the negatives. Based on a literature review and a practitioner's workshop, here we develop a systematic framework--or typology--for classifying and analysing possible interventions to promote the integration of IRS in a city's SWM system. Three primary interfaces are identified: between the IRS and the SWM system, the materials and value chain, and society as a whole; underlain by a fourth, which is focused on organisation and empowerment. To maximise the potential for success, IRS integration/inclusion/formalisation initiatives should consider all four categories in a balanced way and pay increased attention to their interdependencies, which are central to success, including specific actions, such as the IRS having access to source separated waste. A novel rapid evaluation and visualisation tool is presented--integration radar (diagram) or InterRa--aimed at illustrating the degree to which a planned or existing intervention considers each of the four categories. The tool is further demonstrated by application to 10 cases around the world, including a step-by-step guide.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, London, UK. c.velis@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Costas A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Velis
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ondina
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavropoulos
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cheeseman
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003256:Community Participation; D003906:Developing Countries; D058735:Environmental Policy; D033161:Government Regulation; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D062611:Solid Waste