Informal waste recycling in Delhi
Student name: Mr Ahmad Seyar Mohebzada
Guide: Ms Nimish Jha
Year of completion: 2014
Host Organisation: The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Suneel Pandey
Abstract: Not only in Delhi, but also like in any other states in India, recycling activities of solid waste
is generally carried out by the informal (collection and) recycling sector (hereafter
abbreviated as „IRS‟). But the sector is often unrecognized. Recent evidence shows nearly 9-
20% percent of Delhi‟s waste is collected for recycling and removed from the waste stream
by a range of informal waste stakeholders. They play a vital role in the entire waste-recycling
value chain by collecting, retrieving, segregating recyclable waste and reprocess it into
secondary raw materials for manufacturers. The sector constitutes source of livelihood for
85,000 wastepickers only in Delhi, however, the sector is not limited to wastepickers, but also
it includes of „thiawalas‟, itinerant waste buyers-„kabariwalas‟, scrap dealers, drivers, junk
shopkeepers, stockists and even sometimes preprocessors.
Activity of the IRS in waste management differs widely, ranging from individuals and groups
organized in cooperatives providing door-to-door collection of mixed waste which they often
sort and segregate, to individuals scavenging in landfills, transfer stations and communal
bins. They could be entitled as „environmental army‟ who increases the efficiency of the
waste management system and offer advantages in economic, environmental and social and
greenhouse gas mitigation. However, persisting factual challenges are associated with IRS
such as occupational health and safety, child labour, social stigma, adverse impact of wasteto-energy
treatment plants, lack of enough space, transportation problems and lack of legal
recognition.
Increasingly, there is a world-wide consensus that IRS should be integrated into the formal
solid waste system. The integration of the IRS into formal waste management system is not
one dimensional or a single step process. It is hence proposed that it must be through careful
planning and administration in a holistic manner. To do so, one question would be the top of
all, which is „how to go about it?’- In this study, hence an analytical Framework for
integration of IRS into Solid Waste Management system is presented as the top-level
outcome of this study. The Framework is for classifying and analysing possible interventions
to promote the integration of IRS in Delhi‟s solid waste management system and also
addressing key challenges associated to IRS stakeholders.
