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Surviving from garbage: the role of informal waste-pickers in a dynamic model of solid-waste management in developing countries

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  • MORENO-SÃ NCHEZ, ROCÃ O DEL PILAR
  • MALDONADO, JORGE HIGINIO

Abstract

In developing countries, informal waste-pickers (known as scavengers) play an important role in solid waste management systems, acting in a parallel way to formal waste collection and disposal agents. Scavengers collect, from the streets, dumpsites, or landfills, re-usable and recyclable material that can be reincorporated into the economy's production process. Despite the benefits that they generate to society, waste-pickers are ignored when waste management policies are formulated. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the role of scavengers in a dynamic model of production, consumption, and recovery, and to show that, in an economy producing solid waste, efficiency can be reached using a set of specific and complementary policies: a tax on virgin materials use, a tax on consumption and disposal, and a subsidy to the recovery of material. A numerical simulation is performed to evaluate the impact of these policies on landfill lifetime and natural resource stocks. A discussion on the implementation of these instruments is also included.

Suggested Citation

  • Moreno-Sã Nchez, Rocã O Del Pilar & Maldonado, Jorge Higinio, 2006. "Surviving from garbage: the role of informal waste-pickers in a dynamic model of solid-waste management in developing countries," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 371-391, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:endeec:v:11:y:2006:i:03:p:371-391_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Yenming & Wu, Tien-Hua, 2010. "The diffusion dynamics of the informal sector and sustainable WEEE supply chain," MPRA Paper 25650, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Nobomi Ngalo & Gladman Thondhlana, 2023. "Illegal Solid-Waste Dumping in a Low-Income Neighbourhood in South Africa: Prevalence and Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. María José Zapata Campos & Sebastián Carenzo & Goodluck Charles & Jutta Gutberlet & Jaan-Henrik Kain & Michael O Oloko & Jessica Pérez Reynosa & Patrik Zapata, 2023. "Grassroots innovations in ‘extreme’ urban environments. The inclusive recycling movement," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 41(2), pages 351-374, March.
    4. Carrie L Mitchell, 2009. "Trading Trash in the Transition: Economic Restructuring, Urban Spatial Transformation, and the Boom and Bust of Hanoi's Informal Waste Trade," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(11), pages 2633-2650, November.
    5. Giovanni Vinti & Mentore Vaccari, 2022. "Solid Waste Management in Rural Communities of Developing Countries: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie & Phebe Asantewaa Owusu, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on waste management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7951-7960, May.
    7. Juliette F. Bermudez & Ana M. Montoya-Ruiz & Juan F. Saldarriaga, 2019. "Assessment of the Current Situation of Informal Recyclers and Recycling: Case Study Bogotá," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Do Carmo, Maria Scarlet & Puppim de Oliveira, Jose Antonio, 2010. "The Semantics of Garbage and the organization of the recyclers: Implementation challenges for establishing recycling cooperatives in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(12), pages 1261-1268.
    9. Jutta Gutberlet & Torleif Bramryd & Michael Johansson, 2020. "Expansion of the Waste-Based Commodity Frontier: Insights from Sweden and Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, March.

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