Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Informal Waste Management

  • Published:
Environment, Development and Sustainability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article discusses the poorly assessed topic of informal waste management systems, in which there appears to be a high level of heterogeneity throughout the world. The article considers the ways scavengers function within the broader context of waste management; they show a wide range of locally formed and adapted activities and social systems. Examples from different cultures are included: the United States, Jamaica, Brazil, Egypt and Indonesia. The authors advocate comparative research and find a contextual, holistic approach to be the most appropriate. Using such an approach, they isolate the important factors that characterize these systems: technical, socio-cultural, socio-political and organizational aspects are elaborated. Experiments in intervention have been undertaken at various levels, from varying ideological and theoretical backgrounds. Academic analyses have ranged from neo-Marxist political economy models to neo-liberal development approaches. As expressed in the title the authors conclude that informal waste management systems are unjustifiably considered problematic whereas they often reveal great development potential.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adeyemi, A.S., Olorunfemi, J.F. and Adewoye, T.O.: 2001, 'Waste scavenging in third world cities: a case study in Ilorin, Nigeria', Environmentalist 21(2), 93–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • ASMARE Street Scavenger's Association: 1998, Street Scavengers:Partners of the Selective Waste Collection of Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (pamphlet).

  • Baud, I., Grafakos, S., Hordijk, M. and Post, J.: 2001, 'Quality of life and alliances in solid waste management: contributions to urban sustainable development', Cities 18(1), 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birkbeck, C.: 1978, 'Self-employed proletarians in an informal factory: the case of Cali's garbage dump', World Development 6(9/10), 1173–1185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birkbeck, C.: 1979, 'Garbage, industry, and the 'vultures' of Cali, Colombia', in R. Bromley and C. Gerry (eds.), Casual Work and Poverty in Third World Cities, New York, John Wiley and Sons, pp. 161–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGregorio, M.: 1994, Urban Harvest: Recycling as a Peasant Industry in Northern Vietnam, East West Center Occasional Paper no. 17, Honolulu, East West Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa, M.: 1998, 'The community as a resource for solid waste management', in E. Thomas-Hope (ed.), Solid Waste Management: Critical Issues for Developing Countries, Kingston, Canoe Press, pp. 27–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca, I.: 1996, Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and their Journey, New York, Vintage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gage, I.: 1998, 'The effect of the method of household containment on solid waste management', in E. Thomas-Hope (ed.), Solid Waste Management: Critical Issues for Developing Countries, Kingston, Canoe Press, pp. 159–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, R.: 2001, Nice Up Your City, Nice Up Your Self: Solid Waste Management in Kingston, Jamaica, Leiden University Master's Thesis.

  • Medina, M.: 1997, Informal Recycling and Collection of Solid Wastes in Developing Countries: Issues and Opportunities, UNU/IAS Working Paper No. 24, Tokyo, United Nations University/Institute of Advanced Studies, July 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina, M.: 2000, Scavenger Cooperatives in Asia and Latin America, Downloaded from http://www.gdnet.org/pdf/medina.pdf, January 15, 2003.

  • Ojeda-Benitez, S., Armijo-de-Vega, C. and Ramírez-Barreto, M.E.: 2002, 'Formal and informal recovery of recyclables in Mexicali, Mexico: handling alternatives', Resources, Conservation and Recycling 34, 273–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S.E.: 1978, San Francisco Scavengers: Dirty Work and the Pride of Ownership, Berkeley/Los Angeles/London, University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigular, D.T.: 1992, Scavengers, Recyclers, and Solutions for Solid Waste Management in Indonesia, Center for Southeast Asia Studies Monograph No. 32, Berkeley, University of California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svadlenak-Gomez, K.: 1999, From Scavengers to Eco-Aides: The Environmental and Social Opportunities of Working with Informal Sector Recyclers, New York, CUNY Master's Thesis.

  • Thomas, C.: 1999, 'Waste management and recycling in Romania: a case study of technology transfer in transition', Technovation 19, 365–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • a.asp., May 11, 2001

  • UNESCO: 2001, http://www.unesco.org/most/southam4.htm, May 11, 2001.

  • Versnel, H.: 1986, 'Scavenging in Indonesian cities', in P.J.M. Nas (ed.), The Indonesian City,Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land-en Volkenkunde 117, Dordrecht, Cinnaminson, Foris Publications, pp. 206–219.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNWS Research School, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9515, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Peter J.M. Nas & Rivke Jaffe

Authors
  1. Peter J.M. Nas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rivke Jaffe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rivke Jaffe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nas, P.J., Jaffe, R. Informal Waste Management. Environment, Development and Sustainability 6, 337–353 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ENVI.0000029912.41481.a5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ENVI.0000029912.41481.a5

Search

Navigation