Complex waste management in Myanmar: role of the actors, relationships, and social capital

Adequate waste management is a pressing global problem that undermines sustainability efforts in many countries. Controlling solid waste, recycling, and reducing waste including plastics, are essential policy objectives. This is especially relevant in countries like Myanmar, scoring poorly on waste-related indicators. This paper adopts a holistic system perspective, looking at the formal and the informal sectors’ contribution to waste collection and recycling efforts. By studying waste management in the Bago Township, we investigate the actors’ relationships by identifying bonding mechanisms between the actors. Central in the informal system are medium and larger scrap dealers that not only serve as waste trade intermediaries, but function as banks, social security agents, and fora for information exchange. The study shows that relationships between scrap dealers and waste pickers are regulated by different types of bonding mechanisms contributing to the social capital variables, trust, predictability, transparency and openness. In contrast, a few bonding mechanisms were established by the formal sector actors. It is the formal system that has the mandate to assure waste collection and that the waste is treated appropriately without posing any environmental and health risks. The informal system contributes to impressive levels of circularity, while also supporting livelihoods. Strengths and responsibilities should be adequately recognized and included in the governance arrangements. Identification of a governance system that addresses both formal and the informal sector needs to consider the local context by involving local stakeholders and build on the existing networks, knowledge, and skills.