INFORMAL RECLAIMERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa discusses the role of informal reclaimers (waste pickers) in African cities and argues for their integration into a circular economy to address environmental pollution and socio-economic challenges.

• Informal reclaimers provide essential waste management services in African cities by diverting materials like plastic, cardboard, paper, e-waste, and metal from landfills, illegal dumps, and residential or commercial areas to be used as secondary raw materials. They fill a gap between formal waste systems and private recycling services, acting as economic actors, environmental stewards, service providers, and drivers of social change by alleviating poverty.
• Informal reclaimers face significant systemic barriers, including social stigmatization, health risks due to a lack of personal protective gear, and economic exploitation by middlemen. They are also subject to criminalization, with some being forced to pay gang members at landfills, and they often lack access to basic social benefits and healthcare.
• The document identifies several categories of reclaimers operating in cities: doorstep/kerbside reclaimers, itinerant buyers, landfill reclaimers, on-route/truck reclaimers (who are predominantly formal), sorters, and street reclaimers.
• To achieve an inclusive circular economy, the document recommends that national governments enact regulatory measures to include the informal sector, and that local governments contract reclaimers for waste services. It further suggests that producers should include reclaimers' input during the product design stage due to their practical experience with material recyclability and local infrastructure.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). INFORMAL RECLAIMERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/informal_reclaimers_in_circular_economy_fs.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. INFORMAL RECLAIMERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. n.d. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/informal_reclaimers_in_circular_economy_fs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=INFORMAL RECLAIMERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/informal_reclaimers_in_circular_economy_fs.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandinformal, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{INFORMAL RECLAIMERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/informal_reclaimers_in_circular_economy_fs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }