4. Verified Plastic Recovery and social impact

There is significant overlap between informal employment and poverty. The waste sector in many parts of the world is not just informal, but often deeply unorganized and exploitative. People who work in informal waste collection are often underpaid for their work, and trapped in a cycle of poverty. In India alone, approximately 4 million waste workers live in poverty, with many earning less than $1 a day.

Plastic recovery funding allows rePurpose Global projects to address the socio-economic crisis that exists within the waste management sector.

In Gerugambakkam, Chennai, brand financing was used to fund the set-up of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in a project run by rePurpose in partnership with Waste Ventures India (WVI). Dr. Roshan Miranda — the co-founder of WVI, says that plastic recovery financing from brands has enabled WVI to scale-up impact by 3-5 times. And today, the waste workers engaged with WVI are able to earn a more stable and fair income than before. By collecting previously 'low-value' plastics alongside other waste, informal waste workers can now earn more every time they do their ronuds. Formal workers in facilities are provided safety equipment, sanitation facilities, and training and advancement opportunities. This along with further opportunities for related micro-entrepreneurship has gone a long way to supporting the local community and economy. Other projects, such as those in Indonesia provide micro-entrepreneurship opportunities through a unique franchise model.

Many informal waste workers in the developing world belong to marginalized communities. From our experience of working in the informal waste sector in India, we know that waste workers often come from historically oppressed, low-ranked caste groups. There is also social stigma associated with waste collection, leaving waste workers frequently subject to rejection and humiliation, along with deprivation.

The formalization of waste projects and more consistent income for workers can change these perceptions. rePurpose’s VPR funding also supports waste workers by making working conditions safer, cleaner and fairer. For example, workers on rePurpose Global impact projects are provided with protective equipment, uniforms, break rooms, sanitary facilities, and refreshments.

These kinds of transformations are helping to change negative public perceptions and build newly-found dignity, respect and self-confidence for waste workers. There is still a long way to go, but brand financing from plastic recovery is already shaping the way that waste workers are seen, and giving them a route out of everyday discrimination and harassment.

Unfortunately, women who work in waste management tend to be disproportionately marginalized. Challenging family circumstances often impact women’s availability to work, and the problem of gender-based income disparity contributes to their vulnerability in this sector.Instituting safeguards to improve the conditions of informal waste workers, especially women, is essential to turn this around. rePurpose Global has taken a lead on these issues. For a start, we have made a conscious attempt to channel plastic action funding towards women-led ventures. Furthermore, we work on the ground with our partners to ensure that each impact project meets standards for fair and equal pay, and provides a safe space for female workers to work – in accordance with the rePurpose Global Impact Code. These conditions are implemented across all rePurpose projects, providing women with a safe working environment, dignified employment and a fair income.

The social benefits of VPR go beyond the direct impact on project communities. Building waste management supply chains in under-served communities means cleaner and healthier communities. Our projects serve at least 1 million people, who benefit from the improved collection and recovery infrastructure, and the wider effect of reduced plastic pollution - on land and in oceans - is enormous.