Incorporating Informal Female Waste Pickers into Plastic Waste Management: An Analysis of Vietnam's Policies and Regulations
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The vital role of informal female waste pickers (IFWPs) in managing plastic waste in Vietnam is undeniable. Nonetheless, the launch of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program in 2024 requires incorporating this recycling workforce into the plastic waste management system because EPR requires traceability of recyclables. This paper examines Vietnam's existing policies and regulations that may hinder the incorporation of IFWPs into plastic waste management. A gender-responsive approach was used, including desk evaluations and interviews with experts and target audiences. The findings reveal that IFWPs' contributions have not been adequately recognized or provided with social safety nets. To effectively incorporate IFWPs into the EPR system, the government should enact a law that officially recognizes waste picking as a profession and professionalizes this workforce by incorporating them into more capable organizations.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The views, opinions, and pictures expressed in this journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the editor and the editorial board. All rights are reserved by the authors and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University. No part of this journal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing from the journal’s editor, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Non-commercial use of information in this journal must be properly referenced.
References
Ba Dung, T. (2024, May 8). Waste pickers need to play a proper role in efforts to reduce solid
waste. Tuoi Tre Newspaper. https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-thu-gom-ve-chai-can-co-vai-tro-xung-
dang-trong-no-luc-giam-chat-thai-ran-20240308103831069.htm
Chikarmane, P., Narayan, L., & Chaturvedi, B. (2008). Recycling livelihoods: Integration of the
informal recycling sector in solid waste management in India. Chintan Environmental
Research and Action Group.
Crivellari, H. M. T., Dias, S. M. & Pena, A. de S. (2008). Informação e trabalho: Uma leitura
sobre os catadores de material reciclável a partir das bases públicas de dados. Women in
Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing. https://www.wiego.org/publications/
informacao-trabalho-uma-leitura-sobre-os-catadores-de-material-reciclavel
Dias, S. M. (2009). Trajetórias e memórias dos fóruns lixo e cidadania no Brasil: Experimentos
singulares de justiça social e governança participativa. (Doctoral dissertation, Universidade
Federal de Minas Gerais).
https://www.wiego.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/Dias_Thesis.pdf
Dung, N. (2019, March 19). 97.9 percent of informal workers do not participate in any type of
insurance. Laborer Newspaper. https://nld.com.vn/cong-doan/979-lao-dong-phi-chinh-thuc-
khong-tham-gia-bhxh-20190318223641148.htm
Environment and Community Research. (2019). Report: Women empowerment in the plastic
waste value chain. CECR.
https://cecr.vn/download/report-women-empowerment-in-the-plastic-waste-value-chain/
Gunsilius, E., Spies, S., García-Cortés, S., Medina, M., Dias, S., Scheinberg, A., Sabry, W.,
Abdel-Hady, N., Santos, A.-L. F. dos, & Ruiz, S. (2011). Recovering resources, creating
opportunities: Integrating the informal sector into solid waste management. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
Hoa, N. T. (2023, November 23). Secretary of the Women's Union of Do Son coastal town –
Hai Phong, Vietnam. Interview conducted and translated by the author, recorded and
transcribed by N. H. Ngan. Communication via Facebook page “Phụ nữ Đồ Sơn,”
December 2023.
Hoang, N. (2023, February 17). Effectiveness from the waste management community model.
Natural Resources and Environment E-magazine. https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/hieu-
qua-tu-mo-hinh-cong-dong-quan-ly-chat-thai-350679.html
Hong, T. V. (2023, May 17). In Vietnam, waste pickers fight the climate crisis, but with no social
safety net. Eco-Business. https://www.eco-business.com/news/in-vietnam-waste-pickers-
fight-the-climate-crisis-but-with-no-social-safety-net/
Khôi, C. (2022, April 17). It is necessary to recognize “waste workers” as a profession to have
appropriate support mechanisms. VNEconomy. https://vneconomy.vn/can-xac-dinh-luc-
luong-ve-chai-dong-nat-la-mot-nghe-de-co-co-che-ho-tro-phu-hop.htm
Lindhqvist, T. (2000). Extended producer responsibility in cleaner production: Policy principle to
promote environmental improvements of product systems. (Doctoral dissertation,
Lund University). IIIEE.
National Plastic Action Partnership. (2023). Gender context assessment of the plastic value
chain in Vietnam: Context assessment Report. World Economic Forum.
https://weforum.ent.box.com/s/8y10a2qcpko0qnoc8lprgff52yg8gw11
Nguyen T., L. (2019). Report on assessment of the current situation of gender in the plastic value chain in Vietnam. National Plastic Action Partnership. https://erc.undp.org/api/download?filePath=%2Fdocuments%2F15030%2Fmgmtresponse%2Fkeyaction%2Fdoc_21685788943954558251.2GESIcontextassessmentfullreport.pdf
Nguyễn, V. (2023, Novembr 11). “Big names” of the milk industry commit to supporting partners in collecting and recycling packaging waste. VNEconomy. https://vneconomy.vn/ong-lon-nganh-sua-cam-ket-ho-tro-cac-doi-tac-thu-gom-va-tai-che-rac-thai-bao-bi.htm
Ocean Conservancy. (2019). The role of gender in waste management: Gender perspectives on waste in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. GA Circular. https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-Role-of-Gender-in-Waste-Management.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2016, September 20). Extended producer responsibility: Updated guidance for efficient waste management. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/env/extended-producer-responsibility-9789264256385-en.htm
Party Central Committee. (2018). Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated May 23, 2018, on social insurance policy reform. People’s Committee of Nghe An Province. (2018). Decision No. 2361/QD-UBND.
Phong, D. (2020). Waste pickers - A “silent” ecosystem. Science and Development Newspaper. https://khoahocphattrien.vn/chinh-sach/nhung-nguoi-ve-chai-dong-natmot-he-sinh-thai-am-tham/202009280537876p1c785.htm
Phuong, D., Tien, V., Tuan, A., & Hai, H. (2024, March 4). Vietnam has nearly 3 million informal waste collectors and recyclers. VTV Online Newspaper. https://vtv.vn/news-20240304170825558.htm
Phuong, N. H. (2020). The legal, policy and institutional frameworks governing marine plastics in Viet Nam. ECOLEX. https://www.ecolex.org/details/literature/the-legal-policy-and-institutional-frameworks-governing-marine-plastics-in-viet-nam-ana-094760/
_______. (2021). Policy effectiveness assessment of selected tools for addressing marine plastic
pollution: Extended producer responsibility in Vietnam. IUCN Environmental Law Centre.
Samson, M. (2009). Refusing to be cast aside: Waste pickers organizing around the world. Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing. https://www.wiego.org/publications/refusing-be-cast-aside-waste-pickers-organising-around-world
Self Employed Women's Association. (2024). SEWA. https://www.sewa.org/
Thai, B. (2024, March 4). Each year, Vietnam generates about 3.2 million tons of plastic waste. Vietnam Environment and Life Magazine. https://moitruong.net.vn/moi-nam-viet-nam-thai-ra-khoang-3-2-trieu-tan-rac-nhua-72103.html
Thi, M. (2022, November 5). View expressed in conversation with the author. Environmental Management Newspaper. https://quanly.moitruongvadothi.vn/30/24460/Hon-30-luong-rac-thai-tai-Viet-Nam-duoc-thu-gom-qua-kenh-dong-nat.aspx
Trong, D. (2022, August 8). Purchasing recyclable waste using Uber and Grab ride-reserving apps. Vietnamnet Newspaper.
United Nations Development Programme. (2022, May 13). Scaling-up integrated and inclusive waste management models through empowering the informal sector and fostering the circular economy (Phase 2). UNDP Vietnam. https://www.undp.org/vietnam/projects/scaling-integrated-and-inclusive-waste-management-models-through-empowering-informal-sector-and-fostering-circular-economy-phase-2
_______. (2022, June 21). Inclusion of informal waste workers (IWWs) in the transition to sustainable waste management. UNDP Vietnam. https://www.undp.org/vietnam/publications/inclusion-informal-waste-workers-iwws-transition-sustainable-waste-management
United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Marine plastic litter in East Asian seas: Gender, human rights, and economic dimensions. Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). https://www.unep.org/cobsea/resources/report/marine-plastic-litter-east-asian-seas-gender-human-rights-and-economic-dimensions
United Nations Fund for Population Activities, & United Nations agency for children. (2021). Joint evaluation of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the elimination of female genital mutilation: Accelerating change phase III (2018–2021). https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/admin- resource/thematic%20note%201_gender_final.pdf
Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA). (2021, November 11). Annual report 2020. VCA. https://vca.org.vn/bao-cao-thuong-nien-lien-minh-htx-viet-nam-2020-a24170.html
Vietnam Women's Union. (2024, May 14). Introduction. Vietnam Women's Union. https://vwu.vn/introduction
Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing. (2011). Informal workers in focus: Waste pickers in Brazil. WIEGO.