TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the functional relationship between the formal and informal waste systems:
T2 - A case-study in Catalonia (Spain)
AU - Rendon , Michael Thomas
AU - Espluga Trenc, Josep
AU - Verd Pericas, Joan Miquel
N1 - This research includes some of the results of the project “Exploratory analysis of informal waste collection in the city of Granollers,” carried out by an agreement between the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ECOEMBES and the Agència de Residus de Catalunya (Waste Agency of Catalonia) (agreement no. 16881)
PY - 2021/7/1
Y1 - 2021/7/1
N2 - The present study draws from data collected with informal recyclers in the autonomous region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the relationship between the formal and informal recycling sectors in Catalonia and determine how each of their activities impacts the other. From the case study in the city of Granollers, it was determined that from the spring of 2018 to the fall of 2019, the informal recyclers had the potential to collect roughly 44% of the cardboard in their geographical area, helping to meet the environmental goals of the region, but receiving no recognition for their work nor acknowledgement regarding their role in the waste management system. This investigation also analyzed the economic relationship between the formal and informal systems, and the effects that international events, such as China’s National Sword policy, had on that relationship. It was determined that the embeddedness of waste systems and global waste markets affect not only the formal system, but their relationship with the informal system as well.
AB - The present study draws from data collected with informal recyclers in the autonomous region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the relationship between the formal and informal recycling sectors in Catalonia and determine how each of their activities impacts the other. From the case study in the city of Granollers, it was determined that from the spring of 2018 to the fall of 2019, the informal recyclers had the potential to collect roughly 44% of the cardboard in their geographical area, helping to meet the environmental goals of the region, but receiving no recognition for their work nor acknowledgement regarding their role in the waste management system. This investigation also analyzed the economic relationship between the formal and informal systems, and the effects that international events, such as China’s National Sword policy, had on that relationship. It was determined that the embeddedness of waste systems and global waste markets affect not only the formal system, but their relationship with the informal system as well.
U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.07.006
DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.07.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0956-053X
VL - 131
SP - 483
EP - 490
JO - Waste Management
JF - Waste Management
ER -