Recycling in Developing Countries Recycling is primarily carried out by informal sector in most developing countries, without any formal recycling systems or programs. Recycling Paper in Developing Countries • Developing countries are net importers of waste paper. The market value of recycled paper in comparison with new paper and its quality are significant drivers of recovery in developing countries, and cultural and institutional factors become significant once a certain level of income is reached. • Market value of recycled paper and its quality are significant drivers. Cost competitiveness between virgin and recovered paper is especially significant in countries with good forest resources. For instance, in Mexico wood pulp to make paper is seven times more expensive than waste paper recovered by scavengers. • The major constraint for recycling paper in developing countries is the lack of a stable supply of raw materials. For waste paper, this can be partly attributed to the relatively high re-use rate of waste paper for loose and cheaper consumer packaging, as in India. However, the major reason for the low recovery rate is inefficiencies in the waste recovery system. Life of a Waste Collector in a Developing Country • A solid waste collector employed by a municipality in a developing country leads a very different life compared to a sanitation worker in a developed country.
• Medical waste, dead animals, and sanitary waste are also dumped with garbage in many developing cities, and waste collectors are forced to collect them without appropriate safety gear or equipment.
• Even when workers are hired to sweep streets, they are compelled to clean up open defecation and drains blocked with garbage. Their jobs are considered “dirty” and not respectable by others in the society. They also get paid less compared to other associated jobs.
• The welfare of solid waste workers remains at the bottom of any government’s agenda because they are usually at the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy.
