While industrial recycling is squarely situated in the formal sector of the economy, the upstream segments of the recycling supply chain may reach deep into the informal sector, intersecting with the centuries-old occupation of waste picking. In many countries, informal waste pickers play a crucial role in waste collection, including the collection, sorting and resale of recyclable materials. The positive contribution of informal waste pickers to urban solid waste management from an environmental and economic perspective is well documented, as have the poor working conditions faced by waste pickers, and the harmful consequences of these for workers’ health and safety. Inadequate income and social marginalization are common, along with other associated social ills such as child labour, which occurs in landfills, in waste collection and sorting.
In September 2017, The Evening Standard and The Independent, in partnership with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, launched a three-month special investigation into the issue of modern slavery. The special investigation, which was personally...Read More
Significant technological advances are very often accompanied by concerned debate. Will our daily lives be improved or disrupted? Will the need for human intervention or interaction be reduced? Will our relationships change? Digital technologies, un...Read More
The shift of economic production from higher labour standard regimes in the global North to lower standard regimes in the South is undermining enforcement of global labour standards. Responding to criticisms from the ‘anti-sweatshop’ movement, c...Read More
This briefing forms part of a broader five session series ofwebinars standing to tackle contemporary issues impactingmodern slavery in supply chains, calling for candid discussionand pragmatic solutions. ...Read More
2025 © Copyright, RESPECT International. All Rights Reserved. Website Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
