Unseen Green Jobs - A Study on Informal Waste Workers in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR (English)

Municipal solid waste management is an increasingly important priority in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR's Capital City. Municipal solid waste management practices in Vientiane Capital are rapidly evolving, and various actors and stakeholders are providing key support to improve service coverage in collection, transportation, and disposal. A key group of actors driving waste recovery in Vientiane Capital is the informal waste workers (IWWs). The work of IWWs reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and this helps to extend the lifetime of landfills and promotes a circular economy. In addition, the role of IWWs activities is evident in their contribution to filling the limited financial investment, infrastructure, and human resource gaps that local governments face in operating waste management. This study was conducted by the World Bank to support the Lao government develop a more comprehensive information-base and understanding of IWWs in Vientiane Capital. The primary objective of the study was to assess and analyze the working and livelihood conditions and waste recycling practices of the IWWs ecosystems in Vientiane Capital. The study was designed to enhance understanding of IWWs' ecosystem, livelihoods, working conditions, and recycling practices in Vientiane Capital. Supported by the World Bank, it provides relevant findings and recommendations for the Lao government to develop evidence-based policies and investment in municipal solid waste management and social protection for IWWs. The study focused on IWWs in Vientiane Capital, the capital city of Laos. Five categories of IWWs were researched: (1) Informal Street Waste Pickers (ISWPs); informal waste pickers working at the KM32 landfill site (WP32s); (3) waste collectors; (4) waste truck drivers; and (5) junk shops.