Formalizing Recycling Systems in the Philippines

Client: World Bank

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Informal recycling chains slow national green strategies, putting communities at risk in the process of collecting, sorting, and recycling. We helped drive research for a world-bank-funded consortium on formalizing the recycling system in the Philippines. 

Our work helped show the value of recycling system formalization for public and private sector actors. Despite key barriers, formalization can reduce health risks and improve job quality within a critical sector. This process can better align existing recycling sector stakeholders, orienting the national strategy for recycling to improve investment up the value chain in more circular innovation areas. This research helped show the advantage from improving local recycling industry strength to changing the Philippines' position in global recycling chains.