Labour, Waste and the Circular Economy in Bangkok

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the working conditions, health risks, and gender dynamics of informal waste pickers in Bangkok. Based on surveys of 34 workers, it highlights the critical role these individuals play in the city's circular economy and plastic waste reduction, while noting that they often operate below minimum wage and face significant social and physical vulnerabilities.

• Informal waste pickers in Bangkok provide a substantial economic subsidy to the city's municipal waste collection, estimated at 500 million THB or $15.8 million USD annually.
• Waste pickers who rely on this as their primary occupation earn an average of 8,092 THB per month, which equates to a daily income of 269.7 THB—below the Bangkok minimum daily wage of 331 THB.
• Female waste pickers face greater economic and operational constraints than men, earning lower average incomes in both primary and supplementary roles. They are more likely to collect waste on foot or via pickup truck rather than tricycles and are more restricted to working during daylight hours.
• The waste picking workforce is highly precarious and informal; none of the 34 surveyed workers were registered with the government, and only one reported membership in a co-operative.
• Waste pickers face significant health risks, including kidney issues from chemical waste and respiratory problems, yet 50% of respondents do not use any protective equipment.
• The collection of low-value plastics, such as straws or bags, is disincentivized because they are lightweight and offer low prices, leading workers to prefer high-value plastics that are easier to sort and sell.
• Waste pickers experience social marginalization, including harassment from police for traffic or overloading offenses, and discrimination from the public and security guards who may suspect them of theft or view them as a nuisance.
• The Covid-19 pandemic led to decreased earnings for many waste pickers, with some attributing this to a decrease in available plastics or an increase in competition from people laid off during the pandemic.

APA

Archer, D., & Adelina, C. (2021). Labour, Waste and the Circular Economy in Bangkok. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/210719a-mckay-caparas-2106i.pdf

Chicago

Archer, Diane, and Charrlotte Adelina. Labour, Waste and the Circular Economy in Bangkok. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2021. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/210719a-mckay-caparas-2106i.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Archer |first1=Diane |last2=Adelina |first2=Charrlotte |title=Labour, Waste and the Circular Economy in Bangkok |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=July 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/210719a-mckay-caparas-2106i.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{archer2021labour, author = {Archer, Diane and Adelina, Charrlotte}, title = {{Labour, Waste and the Circular Economy in Bangkok}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/210719a-mckay-caparas-2106i.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }