C40 | Toolkit for cities: Practical actions to integrate informal waste workers into municipal solid waste management systems

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, […]
UNDP, Viet Nam NPAP | Research on the integration of independent waste workers in solid waste management in Viet Nam

How can Vietnam achieve its ambitious target of increasing plastic recycling from 11% to 38% by 2030? The answer lies in the strategic integration of Independent Waste Workers (IDWWs). This 2025 study by UNDP Viet Nam provides a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning the informal waste sector into a formalised, rights-based system. By addressing institutional barriers […]
Alliance to End Plastic Waste | The Challenges and Solutions for Flexible Plastic Packaging Waste

How can the global community move beyond the linear “take-make-waste” model for flexible plastics? This technical report by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste provides a critical roadmap for Europe and North America, identifying the most effective collection, sorting, and recycling solutions. By evaluating circularity enablers and systemic barriers, the report offers a blueprint for […]
WWF | How to Implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Government and Businesses

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) aims to ensure that product manufacturers are made financially responsible for various parts of the life cycle of their products, including take-back, recycling and final disposal at the end of their useful life. In this way, it aims to apply what is often referred to as the ‘polluter pays principle’. EPR […]
WWF | 15 Basic Principles Establishing an Effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme for Packaging

As the global plastic crisis accelerates, with 11 million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans annually, the need for a systemic shift toward a circular economy has never been more urgent. WWF’s “No Plastics in Nature” initiative identifies Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a foundational tool to bridge the gap between production and sustainable end-of-life […]
WWF-Indonesia | A Ray of Light Amidst the Plastic Crisis

In the face of a mounting global plastic crisis, a dedicated group of local heroes is lighting the way toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for Indonesia. This book captures the power of grassroots leadership, profiling the extraordinary individuals who have turned environmental challenges into opportunities for community empowerment. These stories serve as a powerful […]
SEA-MaP | Regional Behavior Change Communications (BCC) Strategy Playbook on Plastic and Plastic Waste in ASEAN

Plastic pollution remains a critical threat to the environment, public health, and economies across Southeast Asia, driven by persistent everyday behaviors like littering and a heavy reliance on single-use plastics. While awareness is growing, the transition to sustainable habits requires a deep understanding of the specific “enablers” and “barriers” that influence daily choices. This newly […]
The Pew Charitable Trusts, ICF | Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025

In 2020, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Systemiq published a groundbreaking report, “Breaking the Plastic Wave,” amid significant data gaps on plastic pollution, substantial debate over the scale of the plastic pollution problem and various proposals to meet the challenge. With that report, Pew and partners sought to move the global discourse forward by identifying […]
WWF-Indonesia | Indonesia Youth Sustainability Index Report 2025

This data-driven report serves as a benchmark for Indonesian youth aged 16–30 years to measure their perceptions, behaviours, and levels of engagement in sustainability practices, particularly on environmental and waste management issues. This study is based on survey with data collected from over 1,000 respondents in Jakarta, Bogor, and Depok, and is supplemented by interviews […]
SEI | A Waste Hero Alliance: Youth Visions for the inclusion and empowerment of informal waste workers in Asian Circular Cities

Focusing on five areas with an impact on the livelihoods of informal waste workers, this report presents key policy recommendations ideated by youth based on inputs from informal waste workers and feedback from other stakeholders. The Waste Hero Alliance is the result of an innovative multi-stakeholder policy dialogue series that connected informal waste workers and […]