Velis, CA orcid.org/0000-0002-1906-726X, Hardesty, BD, Cottom, JW et al. (1 more author) (2022) Enabling the informal recycling sector to prevent plastic pollution and deliver an inclusive circular economy. Environmental Science and Policy, 138. pp. 20-25. ISSN 1462-9011
Abstract
Recycling by the informal sector provides a rapid, inexpensive solution to plastic pollution, whilst supporting the livelihoods via their inclusion and empowerment. This solution will have the greatest benefit to the environment if supporting interventions are targeted at types of plastic pollution that are the most damaging from an ecological and wider risk perspective. Interventions should target three aspects of the pollution: reducing barriers to collection, improving the revenue from the materials and wider informal recycler remuneration, and increasing the quality of the materials. Done well, these interventions will increase the collection rate, reduce pollution from plastics, and help millions of people escape poverty. They present a scalable international solution to a global challenge; and are likely the only viable solution to the widespread lack of solid waste services and infrastructure across low- and middle-income countries.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Informal recycling sector; Waste pickers; Plastic pollution; Marine litter; Solid waste; Circular economy |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 18 Oct 2022 09:33 |
Last Modified: | 18 Oct 2022 09:33 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.09.008 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:192223 |