waste-hero-alliance-compressed-a052c6cccc5667c8.pdf

The report examines the critical but marginalised role of informal waste workers (IWWs) in Asian cities, highlighting their contribution to resource recovery and the circular economy. Through a multi-stakeholder dialogue called the 'Waste Hero Alliance,' youth activists and IWWs identified systemic challenges—including poverty, health risks, and gender-based exclusion—and proposed five key policy visions: standardised waste disposal, official recognition of workers, access to education, affordable healthcare, and cross-sector collaboration. The document argues that a just transition to a circular economy requires integrating these workers into formal municipal systems to ensure decent work and poverty reduction.

• Informal waste workers (IWWs) provide essential services by filling gaps in municipal solid waste management, particularly in recovering recyclables, which reduces municipal spending and prevents environmental pollution. For instance, in Pune, India, their collection of plastic waste prevents 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
• IWWs operate under precarious conditions characterized by poverty, lack of social protections, and exposure to hazardous materials. Many earn below the minimum wage and lack basic protective equipment, leading to injuries and illness.
• Gender-based inequalities significantly impact the waste sector; women often earn less than men, face greater safety concerns when working at night, and have reduced urban mobility due to a lack of vehicles and childcare responsibilities.
• Youth activists through the 'Waste Hero Alliance' proposed five priority visions for the empowerment of IWWs: standardised waste disposal and storage, official recognition as essential service providers, access to upskilling and education, affordable health insurance, and enhanced cross-sector collaboration.
• The report highlights successful models of integration and support, such as the SWaCH cooperative in Pune, India, which provides identity cards and social benefits, and the Zero Baht Plus shop in Bangkok, which allows residents to exchange recyclables for essential goods.
• Formalisation of the informal waste sector varies by region; while some cities like Surabaya, Indonesia, have used community-based contracting, others like China have historically excluded or persecuted informal workers through legislation.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). waste-hero-alliance-compressed-a052c6cccc5667c8.pdf. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/waste-hero-alliance-compressed.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. waste-hero-alliance-compressed-a052c6cccc5667c8.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/waste-hero-alliance-compressed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=waste-hero-alliance-compressed-a052c6cccc5667c8.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/waste-hero-alliance-compressed.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendwasteheroalliancecompresseda052c6cccc5667c8pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{waste-hero-alliance-compressed-a052c6cccc5667c8.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/waste-hero-alliance-compressed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }