Measuring Informality? Challenges in Quantifying Informal Recycling Sector Activities

Abstract: As the informal recycling sector closes the gap where formal systems (run by private enterprises or public utilities) cannot provide waste collection, processing and recycling services to a sufficient extent, informals have to be considered as an integral part of the existing systems. As informal stakeholders usually do not record their activities, it is important to obtain data on the performance of the informal recycling sector, i.e. to quantify its contribution to waste collection, processing and recycling. On the one hand, this paper deals with the elaboration of methodological approaches in order to obtain data on the performance of informal systems directly at the level of informal stakeholders. On the other hand, it is reported how these findings may be related to other elements of the overall waste management system. Estimates regarding the contribution of the IRS to waste recycling have to be considered as approximate values due to several uncertainties that are explained. However, this paper presents the concept of triangulation that enables a cross-verification of the estimates by using different methods in order to quantify informally diverted recyclables. The paper aims at providing a methodological framework for practitioners in order to estimate the contribution of informal systems in low-income and transition countries to waste collection and recycling as important prerequisite for waste management monitoring and planning activities.