The role of informal sector in plastic waste recycling;a case study of plastic waste collectors in Ubungo ward:Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The integration of informal sector in formal system of waste management in Kinondoni Municipality has remained difficult due to inadequate knowledge about the sector. The study aimed at assessing the role of informal plastic waste collectors in plastic waste recycling in Ubungo ward. The ward was selected among 27 Kinondoni Municipal wards by using Cluster random sampling technique and then all active informal plastic waste collectors in Ubungo were studied. Techniques for primary data collection include interviews, observation, questionnaire and focus group discussion. Literature review was used to collect secondary data. Data related to the role of informal plastic waste collectors in plastic waste management were gathered then processed and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study revealed that child labour was dominant in the informal plastic waste collecting sector. It was also noticed that females were less active in plastic waste collecting because of family ties. Low education among waste collectors hindered them in understanding the market conditions for their recyclables. Plastic waste collecting sector in Ubungo provided employment and also helped in reducing the cost of waste management while contributing more to environmental management. The sector also provided raw materials for plastic manufacturing, hence helping to reduce the depletion of natural resources. Problems like occupational diseases, injury, risks to car accidents, harassment by police and community members, socio-stigmatization as well as exploitation were common in the sector, and these poor conditions in the sector discouraged many people to participate in it. The study therefore recommended that informal plastic waste collectors should be integrated in the formal waste management system in order to improve their working conditions and enhance their contribution to waste management. The Municipal administration must bear the responsibility of recognizing the informal waste collectors, organizing them, giving them training and provide space for waste recycling. The Municipal council should bring together all stakeholders in the plastic waste recycling sector and discuss with them and plan together on how to practice waste recycling sustainably. The Municipal council should also coordinate the provision of education to the informal plastic waste collectors in order to raise their awareness, particularly on the market situation so as to reduce issues of exploitation. The researcher also recommends that, similar studies must be conducted in other areas on plastic waste recycling in order to compare the findings. Further studies must also focus on other types of plastics like plastic bags and on policy and regulatory framework.