Social aspects of solid waste recovery in Asian Cities : with a report on waste picking and solid waste management

The review looks at the issues surrounding the informal recovery and recycling of waste materials by poor people in Asian cities. These are examined in the context of official municipal Solid Waste Management (SWM) policies. It is argued that formal SWM procedures tend not to encourage `irregular' activities. The social position of waste pickers (a term used in preference to scavengers) is described. Waste recovery and recycling is seen here as an important source of income for many thousands of poor urban inhabitants. A new approach to this problem it is suggested should be adopted to improve the working conditions of waste pickers. The review aims to develop and discuss the issues which could lead to a more socially responsible view of SWM. Examples are given of the situation in the major cities of China, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. The ultimate aim is to generate a discussion which will lead to an effective but humane co-ordination of municipal regulations, basic services, community development programmes, and industrial policies so that the development of sustainable waste management will be encouraged for Asian cities. An extract of a literature review at the end of the book provides further social background on waste pickers.