Awareness, Safety Practices and Associated Factors Among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Bangladesh.

Awareness of electronic waste (e-waste) improves safety practices among workers, thereby reducing health risks associated with pollutants. Investigating the awareness and safe practices among these workers could help identify areas for improvement, a task not yet undertaken in Bangladesh. Consequently, this study aimed to examine the awareness, safety measures, and associated factors among e-waste workers in the country. In this cross-sectional study, 236 workers from an e-waste recycling facility located near Dhaka were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire from August to September 2022. Eight questions captured information on socio-demographics and work factors, 24 questions on e-waste awareness, and 11 questions on safety practices. Total awareness and safety scores were calculated and categorized as "good" and "poor" based on a cut-off point of 80% of the total score. Bivariate and regression analyses were done to determine associated factors. Only 25% of workers had good e-waste awareness; major knowledge gaps were regarding minimization, health hazards, and environmental impact. Good awareness was significantly associated with female gender, higher education, income, smoking, experience ⩾5 years, and training. About 58% followed good safety practices, but the use of boots and helmets was inadequate. Good safety practices were significantly associated with higher education, income, smoking, experience, training, and overtime work. On multivariable analysis, those with higher education had 12 times (95% CI 4.83-32.81) and 6 times (95% CI 2.94-12.81) higher odds of good awareness and practices, respectively. Trained workers had 3.6 times (95% CI 1.67-7.52) higher odds of good practices. There was a significant correlation between awareness and practices (r = .70, P < .001). The study found poor awareness and inadequate safety practices related to e-waste among the workers. Urgent interventions like training, the use of protective gear, and stringent policies are warranted to increase awareness and safety behaviors.

This study looked at how aware e-waste recycling workers in Bangladesh are about the hazards of e-waste and whether they take proper safety measures during their work. E-waste, which refers to discarded electronic devices and components, contains hazardous materials like heavy metals and toxic chemicals. If not handled properly, these can cause health problems for the workers as well as environmental pollution. The researchers interviewed 236 e-waste workers in Dhaka in 2022. They asked questions to assess the workers' knowledge about e-waste and its risks, as well as what safety gear and practices they used at work. The study found that only 25% of the workers had good awareness about e-waste hazards. Major gaps were around minimizing e-waste, the health risks, and environmental impact. Around 58% reported following good safety practices like using masks and gloves. However, many did not use critical protective gear like safety boots and helmets consistently. Higher education levels and professional training were linked to better awareness and safer practices. Trained workers were more likely to follow good safety practices. The study findings suggest that urgent interventions like health education and training programs are needed. This can help increase awareness and ensure workers take adequate precautions to reduce health risks from mishandling e-waste in Bangladesh.

Informal E -waste recycling in nine cities of Pakistan reveals significant impacts on local air and soil quality and associated health risks.

The global increase in electronic waste (e-waste) has led to a rise in informal recycling, emitting hazardous heavy metals (HMs) that threaten human health and ecosystems. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of HM levels in dry deposition and soils at proximity of forty (40) informal e-waste recycling sites across Pakistan, between September 2020 to December 2021. Findings reveal that Zn (1410), Pb (410) and Mn (231) exhibited the higher mean deposition fluxes (µg/m2.day), derived from air samples, particularly in Karachi. Similarly, soils showed higher mean concentrations (µg/g dw) of Mn (477), Cu (514) and Pb (172) in Faisalabad, Lahore, and Karachi, respectively. HMs concentrations were found higher in winter or autumn and lower in summer. In addition, HM levels were significantly (p = 0.05) higher at recycling sites compared to background sites year-round, highlighting the e-waste recycling operations as the major source of their emissions. The Igeo index indicated moderate to extremely contaminated levels of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni in Karachi, Lahore and Gujranwala. Ingestion was found as a leading human exposure route, followed by dermal and inhalation exposure, with Pb posing the greatest health risk. The Cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) model suggested moderate to low cancer risks for workers. Strategic interventions recommend mitigating health and environmental risks, prioritizing human health and ecosystem integrity in Pakistan's e-waste management.

Applying social life cycle assessment in the informal recycling sector: Understanding challenges and limitations.

The transition towards Circular Economy (CE) is a promising approach to sustainable development that may cause significant social impacts. Despite the benefits of CE initiatives, key players such as informal recyclers face serious social issues such as poverty, lack of social security, and discrimination. Although evaluating social impacts remains a considerable challenge, Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is recognized as a suitable methodology with a life cycle perspective. While most SLCA experiences are conducted in the formal sector, it is important to consider the informal sector, which plays a crucial role in developing countries. This article presents an analysis of SLCA studies in informal recycling settings in order to identify the challenges and adjustments required for informal settings. The analysis is based on a literature review and a documentary review of a pilot application of SLCA in the informal recycling system in Cuenca, Ecuador. The results show that SLCA requires adaptation to be applied in informal settings. There are particular challenges in delineating boundaries due to the fuzzy nature and variability of informal activities. Tasks such as establishing specific indicators, developing reference scales and data collection, require careful planning and active stakeholder participation. For instance, indicators regarding Fair Salary or Working hours were adapted based on best practices. Furthermore, tasks such as verifying and disseminating results should be included in interpretation phases to generate long-term impacts and influence behaviors. The study underscores SLCA's multidimensional view but highlights the need for further standardization and adaptation for informal sectors.

Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan.

Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m-3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2-92 ng m-3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2-22 ng m-3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9-80 ng m-3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1-25 ng m-3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3-92 ng m-3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8-80 ng m-3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5-49 ng m-3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8-80 ng m-3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.

Incorporating self-employed maintainers into WEEE formal recycling system: A system dynamic approach.

The establishment and operation of a formal recycling system for waste electrical and electronic equipment is an important measure to reduce environmental hazards and improve the recycling of resources, but how to incorporate self-employed maintainers into the system has formed an important research gap. Based on the perspective of extended producer responsibility, we argue that self-employed maintainers are required to assume the corresponding environmental responsibility for the environmental externality caused by informal maintenance activities. Using qualitative structural analysis techniques of system dynamics approach with quantitative simulation analysis techniques, we construct an incentive model for self-employed maintainers' participation in formal recycling system, based on which we propose four incentive strategies. A simulation analysis is further conducted by using the case of waste mobile phones recycling in Qingdao to verify the effectiveness of our incentive model and strategies.

A review of plastic waste circular actions in seven developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals.

Plastic waste circularity is a priority at a global level. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) set the ways to go, and the circular economy principles underlined the 'green' strategies to be employed. However, in practice, there is still much to do, especially in developing countries, where open burning and open dumping still represent the common way of plastic waste disposal. This review aims to analyse current plastic waste circular approaches in low-middle income settings. Seven countries were selected based on the economic level and data availability from the authors, and analysed to collect and critically discuss the actions implemented at a city level. Examples of waste minimization and recycling strategies, selective collection systems and public campaigns are reported from Africa, Asia and Latin America. First, a background analysis related to physical and governance aspects of municipal solid waste management systems of the chosen settings was conducted. The assessment was focused on the treatment processes or minimization actions. Then, the applicability of the projects to achieve the SDGs was commented on. The outcomes of the research underline the need to: (1) scale up small-scale and pilot projects, (2) disseminate good practices in more low- to middle-income settings, (3) create synergies among international partners for further replications in cities. Urgent solutions to plastic waste pollution are needed. The review presented practical actions to be implemented now to boost plastic waste circularity in developing cities.

Informal E-waste recycling practices and environmental pollution in Africa: What is the way forward?

Globally, e-waste is the fastest growing and most valuable waste-stream. While countries worldwide are increasingly acknowledging the e-waste problem and introducing policies and regulations that deal with e-waste, large quantities of e-waste still go undocumented. Much of these global e-wastes are accumulating in open-dumpsites and landfills in African-countries where they are recycled informally resulting in significant environmental and public-health concerns. Although, there is a plethora of studies on e-waste management and disposal, only a few-studies have focused on African-countries who are major recipients of e-waste. Moreover, despite the attempts to mitigate the problem of e-waste in African-countries, e-waste has remained a major-concern and there are currently very limited workable solutions. This study examines informal e-waste recycling, environmental pollution and the extent of environmental and health impacts in major countries of concern including Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. The global e-waste Waste Atlas Report, 2020 identified these countries as major recipients of e-waste. To achieve the aims of this research, previous studies from 2005 to 2022 are collected from various databases and analyzed. Accordingly, this study focuses on environmental pollution and public-health impacts resulting from e-waste dumping and informal recycling practices, illegal transboundary shipment of e-waste to the selected countries, and the interventions of governments and international organizations in reducing the impact of e-waste pollution and informal recycling practices in Africa. Based on the outcomes of this study, practical approaches on the way-forward are recommended. The findings of this study contribute to a growing-body of research on informal e-waste recycling practices in Africa to document that individuals working within e-waste sites and residents in nearby communities are exposed to a number of toxic-substances, some at potentially concerning levels.

Analysis on trade-in strategy of manufacturers competing with informal recycling enterprises.

Considering the competition of informal recycling enterprises in the waste and old product recycling market, this paper analyzes the trade-in strategy of manufacturers and discusses the effect of implementing trade-in on the competition in the recycling market by comparing changes in recycling market shares, recycling prices, and profits before and after the implementation of a trade-in program. Without a trade-in program, manufacturers are always in an inferior position in the competition with informal recycling enterprises in the recycling market. With the implementation of a trade-in program, the recycling prices provided by manufacturers and shares of recycling market of manufacturers not only increase with the earnings of processing a unit old product, but also increase with the total profit margin of sales of new products and recycling of old products. The implementation of a trade-in program can enhance the competitiveness of manufacturers in their competition with informal recycling enterprises, causing manufacturers to obtain more shares and profits in the recycling market, and promoting the healthy and sustainable development of manufacturers in the sale of new products and the recycling of old products.

Municipal solid waste management with recyclable potential in developing countries: Current scenario and future perspectives.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a complex challenge to be solved worldwide, intensified in developing countries since in addition to economic and environmental aspects there is also the social aspect represented by the collector individual. From an integrative bibliographic review this study longitudinally analyses the socio-productive inclusion of collectors in the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) at an international level. Aiming: (a) to identify relevant articles describing/studies on MSWM with social inclusion of scavengers around the world; (b) to analyse these articles in order to present its main characteristics; (c) to describe municipal solid waste management with recyclable potential (MSWRP) with socio-productive inclusion of collectors; (d) the study provides a more detailed summary of MSWRP management in some developing countries: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan; and (e) to provide a framework indicating the future practices and perspectives of MSWRP. As result, this study presents the paradigms and future questions for an effective improvement of WSWM, such as: Professional Training of Scavengers, Cultural Issues, Empowerment of Scavenger, Recycling Cooperatives and Cooperativism, Policy Issues and Recycling Chain, Management Systems and Process Improvement, Quality of Services Provided, Circular Economy and Informal Sector, Health Quality and Safety at Work, Barriers and Solutions for the Inclusion of the Informal Sector, Environmental, Economic and Social Benefits.

An assessment of higher-value recyclable wastes in Mexico City households using a novel waste collector citizen science approach.

The ability to accurately characterize and collect data on household waste generation and composition is essential for promoting recycling and developing city management plans. However, traditional data collection approaches in developing countries are hampered by jurisdictional and budgetary constraints. Here, we explore whether citizen science projects that collaborate with waste collectors can solve this problem and be a viable tool for addressing household waste generation across temporal and geographic boundaries. In this regard, this first study evaluated recyclable household waste generation by engaging waste collectors both door-to-door individuals and trucks as citizen scientists daily in an urbanized colony (5797 inhabitants and 1747 houses) in Mexico City between September and October 2022. To understand their distribution and consumption patterns on a regional basis, we stratified the colony's households into 2 distinct non-overlapping sub zones and one Wednesday market based on waste collectors' routine using a Geographical Information System. Results show that for seven weeks, household waste constitutes up to 12.19 t of recyclables, ranging from 99.5 to 480.8 kg/day, with 35 % cardboard, 23 % PET plastics, 21 % hard plastics, 17 % glass, and 4 % aluminum. The average amount of recyclable waste produced was 54 g/person/day, resulting in an annual recycling generation of 114 t. Statistical analysis revealed that recyclable waste generation varied by day and subzone. Furthermore, informal centers rather than municipal waste disposal facilities are in charge of the final disposition of the collected recyclables, suggesting that a substantial waste proportion may go unaccounted for in the local government's annual MSW report and calling for the implementation of formal recycling sectors. Overall, this study show how effective waste collector engagement in science can be and imply that the proposed citizen science approach is vital for future waste projects and the generation of transparent datasets in developing cities.

Exploring the coevolution of residents and recyclers in household solid waste recycling: Evolutionary dynamics on a two-layer heterogeneous social network.

China's household solid waste recycling system has long faced the challenge of recycling formalization. This process is affected by the complexity of the interdependence of the recycler and resident decisions. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the coevolution of residents' and recyclers' recycling decisions. To this end, this study applied agent-based modeling and network-based evolutionary game methods to construct evolutionary game models based on a two-layer social network. The two layers of heterogeneous social networks depicted the connections between residents and recyclers, respectively. Residents and recyclers choose either formal or informal recycling strategies within layers according to evolutionary game theory. Waste flows and cash flows underlie the interdependent coevolution between the two layers. Using this model, the effects of resident subsidies, recycler subsidies, and regulatory policies on the coevolution of residents and recyclers were simulated. The results showed that the impact of policies on recycling systems relies on long-term social interaction. The trends in the strategic evolution of residents and recyclers were similar, and emerged from their interdependence and mutual influence. Resident-oriented subsidy incentives can promote formal recycling stably and positively. However, recycler subsidies and regulatory policies have opposite marginal promotion effects, as is reflected by the fact that the evolution of formal recycling is insensitive to high recycler subsidies and sensitive to high-intensity regulatory policies. These findings provide a more comprehensive insight into the development of recycling systems and inform the design of waste management policies.

Assessing China's potential for reducing primary copper demand and associated environmental impacts in the context of energy transition and "Zero waste" policies.

To conserve resources and enhance the environmental performance, China has launched the "Zero waste" concept, focused on reutilization of solid waste and recovery of materials, including copper. Although several studies have assessed the copper demand and recycling, there is a lack of understanding on how different waste management options would potentially reduce primary copper demand and associated environmental impacts in China in the context of energy transition. This study addresses this gap in view of a transition to low-carbon energy system and the optimization of copper waste management combining MFA and LCA approaches. Six types of waste streams (C&DW, ELV, WEEE, IEW, MSW, ICW) are investigated in relation to various "Zero waste" strategies including reduction, reuse (repair, remanufacturing or refurbishment), recycling and transition from informal to formal waste management. Under present Chinese policies, reuse and recycling of copper containing products will lead to a somewhat lower dependency on primary copper in 2100 (11187Gg), as well as lower total GHG emissions (64869 Gg CO2-eq.) and cumulative energy demand (1.18x10^12 MJ). Maximizing such "Zero waste" options may lead to a further reduction, resulting in 65% potential reduction of primary copper demand, around 55% potential reduction of total GHG emissions and total cumulative energy demand in 2100. Several policy actions are proposed to provide insights into future waste management in China as well as some of the challenges involved.

Rapid Characterization of Macroplastic Input and Leakage in the Ganges River Basin.

Efforts to understand macroplastic pollution have primarily focused on coastal and marine environments to the exclusion of freshwater, terrestrial, and urban ecosystems. To better understand macroplastics in the environment and their sources, a dual approach examining plastic input and leakage can be used. In this study, litter aggregation pathways at 40 survey sites with varying ambient population counts in the Ganges River Basin were surveyed in pre- and postmonsoon seasons. We examine active litter leakage using transect surveys of on-the-ground items, in conjunction with assessments of single-use plastic consumer products at the point of sale. We find that sites with low populations have a significantly higher number of littered items per 1,000 people than those with mid to high populations. Over 75% of litter items were plastics or multimaterial items containing plastic, and tobacco products and plastic food wrappers were the most recorded items. There was no significant variation of litter densities pre- and postmonsoon. Most single-use plastic consumer products were manufactured in-country, but approximately 40% of brands were owned by international companies. Stratified sampling of active litter input and consumer products provides a rapid, replicable snapshot of plastic use and leakage.

New Models to Reduce the Health Risks of Informal WEEE Recyclers in MTN Phone Village, Rumukurushi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management in Port Harcourt, an oil-producing city in Nigeria, has become an environmental challenge for the location. WEEE recycling is predominantly managed by informal recyclers, who lack the skills to perform risk-free recycling, hence raising health risks to individuals in associated communities and degrading the environment. Formal recycling, which embraces the best practices for effective WEEE management, is faced with several limitations, such as a lack of detailed guidelines on waste recycling, reuse, and final disposal techniques, with no opportunities for landfilling. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Data were gathered via questionnaires and analysed graphically. A background literature review of the assessment of informal recycling methods and associated challenges was performed. Hence, a new concept for the local management of WEEE processing was introduced. This concept limits the role of informal recyclers to WEEE collection. In this case, informal recyclers are paid for WEEE collection; they no longer engage in further WEEE processing. The results show that 48% and 40% agree to partner and collaborate with government agencies, respectively. Conversely, 52% and 40% agree and strongly agree, respectively, to limit their activities to WEEE collection only if the government is willing to pay for the services.

An effective system for recovering recyclable waste from households in China: Ant Recovery's bottom-up scheme in Changchun city.

In light of China's rising environmental governance focus on household waste recycling, this article analyses a novel recyclable waste recovery scheme, Ant Recovery, in Changchun, Jilin Province. In contrast to other recyclable waste collection systems, Ant Recovery emerged as a bottom-up venture established by members of the informal recycling sector in cooperation with the local recycling association. To assess the scheme's performance, the analysis uses field research data obtained over 21 days of observatory and questionnaire surveys at one of Ant Recovery's mobile collection points. Based on data from 1,501 documented recyclable waste transactions, the analysis indicates a median recovery rate of 438.4 kg/hour at the surveyed recovery station. Extended to the entire scheme's network in Changchun, the figure extrapolates to 2,034.6 metric tons/day, which approximates to roughly 94% of waste recyclables generated by the city's households. These achievements essentially result from two factors: (1) A beneficial policy environment established by central and local regulations and (2) AR's operational compatibility with daily routines and profit orientation of waste recyclable delivering stakeholders. In comparison to many other recycling systems in China, the alternative model in Changchun appears to be indigenous with little requirement for novel organisational structures or high capital/ overhead costs.

Challenges confronting waste pickers in Indonesia: An on-field analysis.

This article presents the informal recycling sector's (IRS) social, economic driving factors in five cities in Indonesia and their contribution to waste management in the cities. An on-field analysis was conducted by random and incidental sampling method of questionnaire administration followed by observation. Among the respondents (n = 178), 79% of individuals were waste pickers, 15% were small-scale waste collectors, and 6% were medium-scale waste collectors. The majority of the waste pickers sampled are male (79%). The amount of waste collected by individual waste pickers is 43.87 kg person-1 day-1, a corresponding recycling rate of approximately 12%, and an average monthly income of US$91.7. Gender differences are apparent as the male waste pickers generated higher incomes than those earned by their female counterparts (US$128.3 for men and US$69.7 for women) even as their average work hours are similar to that of the men (7.8 and 7.6 hours day-1, respectively). Economic motives are the respondents' primary driving factors as moving to large cities accompanied by their family members. The study concluded that the IRS plays substantial contribution to waste management; further integrating them into the waste management system via IRS association, additional investment, formulation of law and policies and efforts by municipalities can give various benefits for involved stakeholders, the community and the environment. The results can serve as a significant reference for improving the solid waste recycling system and informal sector management in Indonesian cities and other developing countries.

Assessing the functional relationship between the formal and informal waste systems: A case-study in Catalonia (Spain).

The present study draws from data collected with informal recyclers in the autonomous region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the relationship between the formal and informal recycling sectors in Catalonia and determine how each of their activities impacts the other. From the case study in the city of Granollers, it was determined that from the spring of 2018 to the fall of 2019, the informal recyclers had the potential to collect roughly 44% of the cardboard in their geographical area, helping to meet the environmental goals of the region, but receiving no recognition for their work nor acknowledgement regarding their role in the waste management system. This investigation also analyzed the economic relationship between the formal and informal systems, and the effects that international events, such as China's National Sword policy, had on that relationship. It was determined that the embeddedness of waste systems and global waste markets affect not only the formal system, but their relationship with the informal system as well.

Evaluation of models for household recycling behaviour in high-rise buildings: A Chinese case study in urban Guangzhou.

Recycling strategies and waste management for the source separation of recyclables are still in their infancy in China and many other developing countries. Unlike formal recycling systems with strictly regulated management in high-income countries, waste management and recycling activities in low-income and middle-income countries are predominantly informal. Formal recycling systems often have very small amounts of recyclables in comparison to informal recycling systems. Considering the Chinese case of urban Guangzhou, where formal and informal recycling systems coexist, this study investigated household recycling behaviour and explored the sociodemographic and contextual factors that affect this behaviour. Based on data collected through questionnaire surveys and interviews, a model of the use of public recycling facilities (UPRF) and a model of the use of informal recycling sectors (UIRS) were evaluated using correlations and multiple regression analyses. The findings indicated that the use of public recycling facilities can be significantly predicted by the launch of a source separation scheme, the physical setting and satisfaction with public recycling facilities. The sociodemographic variables did not significantly predict the use of public recycling facilities but did significantly predict the use of informal recycling sectors. This study's findings have implications for researchers and policymakers and shed light on public designs for sustainability.

Formal or informal recycling sectors? Household solid waste recycling behavior based on multi-agent simulation.

Urban household solid waste recycling and management are complex adaptive systems with multiple agents, stages, and elements. Previous studies neglected the impact of municipal residents' behavioral decisions on recycling sectors. In this study, the degree of regret-joy and personality characteristics were introduced into a multi-agent-based model to simulate the action decision-making of agents under different strategies. The results demonstrate that, without the government's role, nearly 60% of municipal residents preferred the informal recycling sector (IFRS). Meanwhile, the formal recycling sectors (FRS) find it difficult to attract urban residents because of their low income levels. Regarding a single policy, the subsidy policy is more beneficial than the regulation policy for increasing the income of the FRS from 20 to 250 Yuan. However, neither of the two single policies can weaken the market competitiveness of the IFRS. Moreover, a comprehensive policy combining both subsidies and regulations has enabled more than 60% of urban residents to choose the FRS, thereby increasing its profit and market share to 270 yuan and 500 kg, respectively. These results provide policy suggestions for optimizing the waste recycling management systems.

Socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on waste bank closed-loop system in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused most waste recycling activities to be terminated due to several factors, such as concerns about the spread of coronavirus through the collected solid waste. This study investigates the socio-economic impact of the situation of the closed-loop system of solid waste recycling. Several recommendations for tackling this problem are presented in this research. Primary data collection for the waste bank and informal recycling sector was carried out in the eastern part of Surabaya during large-scale social restrictions. In-depth interviews were conducted with waste bank customers, waste bank unit representatives and the informal recycling sector to understand the pandemic's socio-economic impact on the closed-loop system. Results show that this pandemic has significant impacts on individuals and stakeholders engaged in waste recycling activities. Customers of waste banks, who mostly belong to low-income communities, mentioned that the waste bank closure gave rise to social and economic problems, such as increasing unmanaged solid waste and decreasing income. This result also applied to the informal recycling sector. The government can use the recommendations in this study to generate related policies, such as enforcing the health protocol within solid waste management to keep the recycling system in place and the business alive.