Inside the divide: a stakeholder's perspective on formal vs. informal waste practices

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Waste Management
• Circular Economy

Background:

• Global solid waste mismanagement presents significant environmental and social challenges.
• The circular economy offers reuse solutions, but integrating the informal sector is difficult.
• Lebanon's economic crisis has spurred growth in the reuse and repair market, yet it remains underdeveloped.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of the informal sector in waste reuse within Lebanon.
• To identify challenges in integrating the informal sector with formal waste management systems.
• To propose strategies for addressing issues related to informal waste reuse.

Main Methods:

• The study employed semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in Lebanon.
• Qualitative data analysis was used to understand the informal sector's dynamics.
• The research examined the interplay between the informal sector and formal waste management.

Main Results:

• The informal reuse and repair market has expanded due to economic pressures but is underdeveloped.
• Informal waste workers pose challenges to formal systems, impacting efficiency and sustainability.
• Systemic deficiencies (legal, technical, economic) and lack of oversight exacerbate issues.

Conclusions:

• Regulating the waste management sector is crucial for addressing informal sector challenges.
• Formalizing or integrating the informal sector requires addressing broader political and regional issues.
• Regulation can facilitate a transition for informal workers, improving waste management and reducing reliance on informal operations.