As cities worldwide strive to meet ambitious zero-waste targets, the contribution of informal waste workers (IWWs) has become a cornerstone of sustainable urban management. This toolkit provides municipal authorities with a practical, step-by-step roadmap to recognise, protect, and integrate these essential workers into formal solid waste management systems. By prioritising social dialogue and inclusive policy-making, cities can achieve their environmental goals while simultaneously ensuring social justice and improved livelihoods for those on the front lines of the circular economy.
This C40 Cities toolkit offers a strategic framework for the inclusive integration of informal waste workers into municipal operations. Recognising that IWWs often handle a significant portion of a city’s recycling, the guide outlines critical interventions such as mapping the informal sector, establishing formal social dialogue platforms, and improving occupational health and safety. The toolkit emphasises that modernisation should not lead to the displacement of informal labour; instead, it advocates for a “just transition” that formalises roles, secures income, and leverages the existing expertise of waste pickers to build more resilient, equitable urban waste systems.
