Value Addition to Plastic Solid Wastes: Informal Waste Collectors’ Perspective

Plastic Solid Wastes (PSWs) recycling is an important component to sustainable manufacturing. In developing economies, the majority of the recovery and recycling is conducted by the Informal Waste Collectors (IWCs). An assessment is conducted to understand the ways in which the IWCs add value to the recovered PSWs prior trading to the plastic converting companies. A questionnaire survey is conducted with the IWCs and a total of 53 questionnaires are analysed. A number of value addition aspects are identified including; sorting, cleaning, classifying, washing and drying and grouping into commercial quantities. Buyers along the supply-chain are considered as an aspect of value addition. The identified value addition aspects are important and relevant to upcoming and existing plastic convertors in terms of driving sustainable manufacturing and value creation for a circular economy.