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A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes

By , , , on September 16, 2022

This policy paper provides a summary of our current understanding of the informal recycling sector; its social, economic, and environmental characteristics in national and international contexts; and the challenges the sector faces. It examines international and national efforts to recognise informal workers and involve them in formal frameworks and agreements that could be an inspiration for the upcoming international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. It also provides a set of high-level policy recommendations inclusive of the informal recycling sector, enabling a just transition and the protection of the informal recycling workers’ livelihoods. The proposed recommendations focus on enhancing the role of the informal recycling sector in a circular economy as indispensable partners in the fight against plastic pollution and achieving a healthy environment for all.

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Tsakona, Maria, Ručevska, Ieva, Dias, Sonia M., and Khaled, Delila. A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes. , , . GRID-Arendal, 2022. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdfTsakona, M., Ručevska, I., Dias, S. M., and Khaled, D. (2022). A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes. , , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdfTsakona, Maria, Ručevska, Ieva, Dias, Sonia M., and Khaled, Delila. "A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes." GRID-Arendal, 2022, .Tsakona Maria, Ručevska Ieva, Dias Sonia M., and Khaled Delila. "A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes." (2022). https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdfTsakona, M, Ručevska, I, Dias, S M, and Khaled, D 2022, 'A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes', , , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdfMaria Tsakona, Ieva Ručevska, Sonia M Dias, and Delila Khaled, 'A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes' (2022). Tsakona M., Ručevska I., Dias S. M., and Khaled D. A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes. . 2022. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdfTsakona, Maria, Ručevska, Ieva, Dias, Sonia M., and Khaled, Delila. A Seat at the Table – The Role of the Informal Recycling Sector in Plastic Pollution Reduction, and Recommended Policy Changes. . 2022. , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Seat-at-a-Table-The-Role-of-the-Informal-Recycling-Sector-in-Plastic-Pollution-Reduction-and-Recommended-Policy-Changes.pdf

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