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Integrating Informal Waste Collectors into Formal Waste

Management Systems: Socio-Economic Conditions, Operational

Practices, and Policy Implications

Charity Donlebo

, Romanus Ziem

School of Hygiene Tamale, Ghana

Polderman Diagnosis Center Tamale, Ghana

Corresponding Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150300104

Received: 26 March 2026; 01 April 2026; Published: 22 April 2026

ABSTRACT

The fast growth of cities in developing nations has put pressure on formal waste management institutions, which

leave large service gaps that can be occupied by informal waste collectors. The paper investigates the socio-

economic attributes, business environment, and significant factors that can affect the willingness of informal

waste collectors to include themselves in the formal waste management systems. The study adopted a

quantitative research design. 65 respondents took part in the study and descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests,

and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the results.

The results indicate that the knowledge of the

formal waste management systems, perceived significance of integration, low income, and poor working

conditions have a high impact on the willingness of collectors to integrate. Conversely, demographic variables

such as gender and education level were not statistically significant predictors. The output of the logistic

regression also shows that awareness is the most powerful predictor, which raises the chances of being

integrated into formal systems significantly. The regression model has a moderate level of explanatory power

and satisfactory predictive accuracy. These findings are important in highlighting the role of policy intervention

strategies intended to strengthen awareness, working environments, and income support programs to informal

waste collectors. These areas would be fortified, which may create more involvement in formal systems.

Incorporation of informal waste collectors can enhance efficiency of operations, environmental sustainability

as well as inclusive urban development. Therefore, the policymakers and other interested parties should identify

and embrace the contribution of informal actors to the wider waste management process in order to bring in

sustainable and fair city waste management.

Keywords: Informal waste collectors; Waste management; Integration; Urban sustainability; Ghana.

INTRODUCTION

There has been a high rate of urbanization and population growth, resulting in prohibitive levels of municipal

solid waste generation, especially in developing countries where institutional capacity and infrastructure tend

to be below demand. This incompatibility has led to endemic inefficiencies in waste collection, transportation,

and disposal systems, resulting in environmental pollution and severe health issues among the population. In

many cities, it is due to poor waste management that can be seen through indiscriminate dumping, open burning,

and the emergence of informal disposal sites, which fail to support sustainable urban development (Kaza et al.,

2018; Ferronato & Torretta, 2019; World Bank, 2024; UNEP, 2022; Hoornweg & Bhada-Tata, 2018).

Moreover, the lack of financial resources, ineffective governance systems, and technological under-adoption

still limit the performance of formal waste management systems (Wilson et al., 2019; OECD, 2022; Guerrero

et al., 2021; Alabi et al., 2019).

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In this regard, informal waste collectors have become the necessary players in filling service delivery voids in

urban waste management systems.

These people operate without formal regulatory bodies and collect, sort, and

reuse waste substances to a great extent of recovering resources and maintaining the environment. As empirical

evidence shows, informal waste collectors in most developing cities have a significant share in the recycling

process, which can often recover a higher percentage than formal systems because they are labor-intensive and

adaptable (Dias, 2020; Aparcana, 2019; Gutberlet et al., 2021; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Scheinberg et al.,

2018). In addition to environmental contributions, they offer economic benefits, as well as the livelihoods of

the marginalized urban populations by providing recyclable resources to industries and also sustaining others

(Medina, 2018; Samson, 2020; Schenck et al., 2019; Dias and Ogando, 2021).

In spite of their work, informal waste collectors often have poor working conditions that are characterized by

low and unstable wages, low levels of protection, and occupational risks. Their non-recognition as a formal

group often makes them vulnerable to the lack of social protection mechanisms and makes them either harassed

or displaced by the local authorities (Samson, 2020; OECD, 2022; Dias and Ogando, 2021; Schenck et al.,

2019).

These difficulties exemplify a structural disconnect of the formal waste management systems and the

informal sector, which restricts the effectiveness and inclusiveness of the entire system. As a result, the role of

incorporating informal waste collectors into the formal systems has been receiving growing interest as a way

of improving the sustainability, equity, and the outcomes of the circular economy (UNEP, 2021; World Bank,

2024; Gutberlet, 2021; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Problem Statement

Even though informal waste collectors make an important contribution to the urban waste management systems,

formal integration in the system is only slightly realized, especially in the developing nations. Such

disconnection leads to inefficiencies including duplication of efforts, poor recovery of recyclable materials and

poor co-ordination between formal and informal players.

The current waste management policies tend to focus

on centralized and capital-based practices and overlook informal recovery systems, which rely on labor-

intensive methods (Wilson et al., 2019; OECD, 2022; Guerrero et al., 2021; Alabi et al., 2019). Consequently,

there is little exploitation of possible synergies between formal and informal systems, which aids in obstructing

the work on the sustainability of waste management and its inclusivity (Scheinberg et al., 2018).

In addition, informal waste collectors have to deal with various socio-economic and institutional constraints,

which limit their productivity and wellbeing. They experience low and unstable incomes, absence of social

protection, poor working conditions, inability to access equipment and infrastructure, and exposure to increased

health risks (Gutberlet et al., 2021; Dias, 2020; Schenck et al., 2019; Dias & Ogando, 2021). Moreover, they

are weak to harassment, eviction, and non-involvement in the decision-making process regarding waste

management due to the absence of legal status (Samson, 2020; UNEP, 2021; Dias & Ogando, 2021).

Although there is an increase in the interest of the policy community in incorporating informal waste collectors

into formal systems, little empirical information exists to support the use of effective strategies at the local

level. Available literature has mostly concentrated on environmental and economic inputs and paid less

consideration to socio-economic aspects, business dynamics, and the perceptions of informal employees in

relation to formalization (Aparcana, 2019; Ferronato & Torretta, 2019; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Scheinberg

et al., 2018). This loophole limits the formulation of context-sensitive evidence-based policies that can be used

to respond to the realities of informal waste workers.

LITERATURE REVIEW WASTE

Waste Management Concept and Emerging Challenges

One of the most important aspects of sustainable urbanization is waste management and this is most evident at

a time when urban growth and industrialization is growing at an alarming rate. It involves collection,

transportation, treatment, recycling and disposal of wastes in a way that minimizes the effects on the

environment and health. Nevertheless, in most developing economies, waste management systems are not

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developed because of poorly developed infrastructure, lack of financial resources, and institutional weaknesses

(Kaza et al., 2018; Ferronato & Torretta, 2019; Guerrero et al., 2021; Hoornweg & Bhada-Tata, 2018).

The recent forecasts imply that the worldwide waste production is going to increase at a very high rate because

of the population growth, urbanization and shifting consumption patterns, which puts more pressure on the

current systems (World Bank, 2024; UNEP, 2022; OECD, 2022). Such a problem is especially acute in sub-

Saharan Africa, where the inability of city administrations to offer effective waste collection services leads to

the extensive environmental pollution and health hazards (UNEP, 2021; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Alabi et al.,

2019). Also, the sustainable waste management practices of recycling and circular economy paradigms are

hampered by technological, financial and governance barriers (OECD, 2022; Kirchherr et al., 2018; Scheinberg

et al., 2018).

Informal Waste Sector: meaning and significance

Informal waste sector is a group of people or a collection of people that collect, sort, recycle and recover waste

outside of institutional organization.

Also known as waste pickers, these participants are important in not only

diversion of recyclable materials out of landfills but also resource efficiency (Gutberlet et al., 2021; Dias, 2020;

Schenck et al., 2019; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Empirical evidence suggests that informal systems can usually have a higher rate of recycling compared to

formal systems because of their flexibility, low costs, and large networks (Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Aparcana,

2019; Wilson et al., 2019). Informal waste collectors operate across different segments of the waste value chain,

such as household collection, street sweeping, scavenging landfills, and material recovery (Dias, 2020; Medina,

2018). Their operations also play an important role in the environmental sustainability and provision of raw

materials to the recycling sectors (Dias & Ogando, 2021; Wilson et al., 2019; Medina, 2018).

Along with environmental positive effects, the informal waste sector offers livelihoods to vulnerable groups of

people: the urban poor, migrants, and those who have not been able to receive formal jobs (Samson, 2020;

Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Schenck et al., 2019). In this way, it serves as a significant economic safety net and

adds to the resiliency of cities.

Socio-economic Profile of informal waste collectors

Age, gender, education, and employment history are some of the factors that determine the socio-economic

profile of informal waste collectors.

The industry can be described as one with a low level of education and

access to other jobs in general (2021; Dias, 2020; Gutberlet et al., Schenck et al., 2019).

The income of informal waste collectors is generally low and not stable and depends on the price of the

recyclable material and availability of waste streams on the market (OECD, 2022; Dias & Ogando, 2021).

Moreover, employees are usually not able to access financial services, social protection, and employment

benefits, and that makes them more vulnerable (Gutberlet, 2021; Schenck et al., 2019). Gender inequalities can

also be noticed, as women are usually concentrated in the lower-paid and more labor-intensive parts of the

waste value chain (UNEP, 2021; Gutberlet, 2021).

Although these are the challenges, informal waste collectors have developed specific skills in sorting and

recycling hence enhancing efficiency of the system. Nevertheless, such competencies are hardly identified or

incorporated into formal systems (Aparcana, 2019; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Waste Management Operational Practices

Various operational practices are used by informal waste collectors, among them being door-to-door collection,

picking in the streets, picking in the landfills and picking up materials.

Such activities are labor-intensive, and

have simple tools and methods (Dias, 2020; Wilson et al., 2019; Medina, 2018).

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Their capacity to extract useful content out of mixed waste streams also boosts the recycling levels as well as

easing the pressure on the landfills.

Research demonstrates that informal systems are relatively cheap to operate

and have the ability to produce high recovery rates in contrast to formal systems (Gutberlet et al., 2021; Schenck

et al., 2019; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Also, the informal waste collectors work through intricate systems of intermediaries, scrap dealers, and

recycling sectors. The networks ensure material flow throughout the value chain, which promotes economic

activity and resource optimization (Aparcana, 2019; Dias & Ogando, 2021; Wilson et al., 2019).

Problems of Informal Waste Collectors

In spite of their efforts, informal waste collectors have to deal with many difficulties, which reduce their

performance and health.

Lack of formal recognition is one of the key problems: it prevents access to legal

protection, social services, and institutional support (OECD, 2022; Samson, 2020; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Work environments can be dangerous, toxic substances, bodily harm, and unsanitary environments can be

encountered (UNEP, 2021; Schenck et al., 2019). The lack of access to protective equipment and healthcare

services contributes to these risks (Dias & Ogando, 2021).

They are also vulnerable because of other factors

such as income instability as a result of market prices that will fluctuate (OECD, 2022; Gutberlet, 2021).

The efficiency of operations is also decreased by infrastructure limitations such as the absence of transportation,

storage areas, and working places (Guerrero et al., 2021; Ferronato & Torretta, 2019; Alabi et al., 2019).

Incorporation of Informal Waste Collector into Formal Systems

Incorporating informal waste collectors into the formal systems is becoming recognized as one of the methods

of enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and social inclusion (Gutberlet, 2021; Dias, 2020; Samson, 2020;

Scheinberg et al., 2018).

The methods of integration are the legal recognition, being included in municipal

contracts, the creation of cooperatives, and the training and supply of resources (Dias & Ogando, 2021;

Aparcana, 2019). There is an indication that effective integration may positively affect working conditions and

income stability as well as access to social protection and increase waste collection coverage and recycling

rates (Gutberlet et al., 2021; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Schenck et al., 2019).

Nevertheless, institutional resistance, lack of political commitment, and stakeholder coordination are usually

obstacles to implementation (OECD, 2022; Guerrero et al., 2021). In addition, success in integrating informal

workers requires the implementation of inclusive and participatory strategies that should integrate the views of

informal workers (UNEP, 2021; Dias & Ogando, 2021).

Relevance and Gaps in the Empirical Data

Although there is a lot of literature on informal waste management, there are still some gaps.

The literature on

the combination of socio-economic attributes, working practices, and perceptions of workers into a combined

analysis is limited (Guerrero et al., 2021; Nzeadibe & Mbah, 2020; Scheinberg et al., 2018). Furthermore, the

localized studies are required to enlighten context-specific policy interventions in developing countries

specifically (Alabi et al., 2019). Moreover, the motivation of informal waste collectors to join formal systems

and the reasons why they are encouraged to be a part of that system should be explored in more detail. These

gaps have to be addressed to develop effective and inclusive policies of waste management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research Design

This study adopted a quantitative research methodology and cross-sectional survey research design to study the

socio-economic features, modes of operation, problems and integration opportunities of informal waste

collectors. Quantitative approach is suitable because it provides an opportunity to measure systematically and

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analyze statistics and generalize results throughout the population of the study (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Cross-sectional design is especially appropriate due to its ability to capture data at one particular point at a time

and analyze the relationships between variables without the necessity to track the variables longitudinally

(Saunders et al., 2019).

The research also is exploratory and explanatory. It is exploratory in that it aims to create knowledge of under-

researched dynamics of informal waste collection, and explanatory since it investigates the associations among

the main variables including socio-economic traits and readiness to become a member of formal waste

collection systems.

Study Area and Population

The research is based on the informal waste collectors working in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region

of Ghana where informal waste management practices are common.

The target population included those who

collect, sort, transportation, and recycling of waste without official institutionalized solutions.

They involve the

street waste pickers, door-to-door collectors, and those working in the dumpsites.

This population has been chosen based on the fact that they play a vital, yet in many cases overlooked, role in

the waste management systems, and because generating empirical data is necessary to inform inclusive policy

interventions (Dias, 2020; Gutberlet et al., 2021).

Technique and Sample size

The method of sample selection was a non-probability sampling, namely purposive and convenience sampling.

This is suitable when conducting a study on a hard-to-reach population, like informal workers, and when a full

sampling frame may not typically be available (Etikan & Bala, 2017; Saunders et al., 2019). The respondents

were chosen according to their participation in informal activities of waste collection.

A total of 65 respondents participated in the study. While this sample size is adequate for exploratory

quantitative analysis, it limits the generalizability of findings beyond the study area, as acknowledged in the

study limitations.. Despite the fact that the sample size might restrict the generalizability, it can be compared

to other similar researches on the population of informal sectors (Aparcana, 2019).

Data Collection Methods

A structured questionnaire was used to gather primary data which attempted to provide information on critical

variables that would be considered in the study.

The questionnaire also contained closed ended and categorical

questions and this made it easy to quantify and analyze it statistically.

The instrument was set in some sections, among them: Socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education

level), attributes of work (duration of work, number of work hours, kind of waste collected), procedures of

operation (waste collection process, transportation, disposal location), economic aspects (income level, forms

of payment), barriers (conditions of work, poverty, bureaucratic restrictions) and perceptions and attitudes (role

in waste management, the desire to become a part of formal systems)

The questionnaire was based on earlier research on informal waste management and was adjusted to meet the

objectives of the study (UNEP, 2021; OECD, 2022). Data gathering was achieved by direct interaction with

the respondents to get clarity and full response.

Measurement of Variables

The research had dependent variables and independent variables. The willingness to be incorporated into the

formal waste management system is the most important variable of the dependent type whose measure is a

binary variable (yes/no). The independent variables included Socio-economic factors: age, gender, level of

education; Work-related variables: experience, working hours, nature of wastes picked; Economic factors:

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salary rates, system of payments; Institutional and operational: transportation availability, disposal areas, work

environment; and Variables of perception: perceived importance of informal collectors of waste, knowledge of

assistance programs.

The choice of these variables was preconditioned by the theoretical and practical literature pointing to their role

in the participation of formal systems and the productivity of the overall productivity of the informal sector

(Dias, 2020; Gutberlet et al., 2021).

Data Analysis Techniques

The data analysis was performed based on the descriptive and inferential statistics. The characteristics of

respondents, and important variables were summarized by the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies,

percentages, and cross tabulations. Such methods will give a clear insight into the patterns and distributions of

the data (Field, 2018).

Relationships between variables were analyzed using inferential analysis. This includes: Chi-square tests to

examine relationships between categorical variables (e.g. socio-economic factors and willingness to integrate);

Regression analysis (e.g. logistic regression) to identify the determinants of willingness to integrate into formal

systems.

The given analytical techniques are quite common in the research within the social sciences to verify the

hypotheses and draw relationships between the variables (Wooldridge, 2020).

The descriptive and inferential

methods used are complementary and hence increase the validity and strength of the results.

Reliability and Validity of the Instrument

The quality of the data being collected was put into consideration by the study in both reliability and validity.

The validity of content was reached through the development of the questionnaire by referring to the existing

literature and the purpose of the study. The instrument was pre-tested and reviewed by experts to make sure

that the questions were clear, relevant, and comprehensive enough (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Internal consistency measures were used in determining reliability, so that the items employed in measuring

similar constructs achieve consistency. Even though the nature of the questionnaire is structured and thus values

the establishment of measurement errors are reduced, measures to standardize the processes of data collection

have been made with an aim of enhancing reliability.

Ethical Considerations

The research was conducted in accordance with set ethical principles of conducting research with human

subjects. The aims of the study were explained to the respondents, and their consent to take part in the research

was voluntary. Data collection was done with informed consent, and respondents were guaranteed the

confidentiality and anonymity.

No identifiers were gathered about a person and the data were utilized in academic purposes only. Ethics plays

a vital role in the preservation of the rights and dignity of the participants especially when the study involves a

vulnerable group like informal workers (Saunders et al., 2019).

Weaknesses of the Methodology

This study has several limitations:

 The use of non-probability sampling and a relatively small sample size (n = 65) limits the

generalizability of findings beyond the Tamale Metropolis.

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 The cross-sectional design restricts the ability to establish causal relationships or observe changes over

time.

 Reliance on self-reported data introduces potential social desirability and recall biases, particularly for

sensitive variables such as income and working conditions.

 The absence of a qualitative component limits deeper understanding of contextual issues such as

mistrust toward authorities.

 The study did not explicitly measure response rates or non-response bias, which may affect

representativeness.

Future research should adopt mixed-method approaches, larger samples, and longitudinal designs.

RESULTS

Socio-Demographic Characteristics

Table 1 below shows the socio-demographic background of respondents such as gender, age distribution and

level of education. Gender wise, the findings revealed that most of the respondents were men with 46

respondents (71%), and women 19 respondents (29%). This is an indication that the informal waste collection

activity in the research area is highly male dominated with less female participation.

Regarding the age distribution, the results reveal that the majority of the respondents are of the age between

25-34 years, with the respondents amounting to 25 (38%).

This is then followed by individuals between 18-24

years which have 12 respondents (18%), and those between 45-54 years which has 11 respondents (17%). The

respondents with age 55 years and above constitute 8 respondents (12%), with respondents less than 18 years

constituting 5 respondents (8%). The 35-44 age group has the smallest number of 4 respondents (6%).

As far as level of education is concerned, the findings indicate that a sizeable portion of respondents, 40

members (62%), has no formal education. Basic education has the highest number of respondents 17(26%),

and secondary education had 6 respondents (9%). Only 2 respondents (3%) had tertiary education. These results

have shown that there is low level of formal education among informal waste collectors and that could be the

reason why they might not have access to formal job opportunities and partly the reason why they are involved

in informal waste sector.

In general, the socio-demographic picture indicates that the informal waste collection is mostly typified by the

inclusion of males, the predominance of young people and economically active groups, and low educational

attainment.

Table 1: Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents

Distribution

Variable

Frequency

Percentage

Gender

Male

71%

Female

29%

Age

Below 18

18–24

18%

25–34

38%

35–44

45–54

17%

55+

12%

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Educational Level

No formal education

62%

Basic education

26%

Secondary education

Tertiary education

Source: Field Survey, 2026.

Operational Characteristics of Informal Waste Collectors

The table 2 below presents the operational profile of informal waste collectors in terms of the nature of waste

collected, the places where they collect the trash, the manner in which they separate the waste, the mode of

transportation, the disposal centers, and the time of day they pick up the waste.

On the categories of waste collected, the results indicate that all the respondents (100%), reported to have

collected household waste, thus making it the most prevailing waste stream. This is secondly followed by

organic waste, which is reported by 63 respondents (97%), and commercial waste which is reported by 60

respondents (92%). Conversely, a smaller percentage of the respondents reported collection of e-waste 22

respondents (34%), industrial waste 18 respondents (28%), and 10 respondents (15%) reported collection of

other wastes. Such distribution indicates that informal waste collectors are mostly involved in municipal solid

waste streams, especially those produced at the household and commercial levels.

Regarding the collection points, the findings reveal that waste collection operations are rampant in various

points. Most of the respondents gather garbage in the streets 64 respondents (98 %), then at dumpsites 61

respondents (94%), door-to-door services 58 respondents (89 %), and markets 55 respondents, (85%).

This

underscores the flexibility and vast coverage of the informal waste collection systems, which allow them to be

used in a variety of urban settings.

In relation to waste segregation practices, the most commonly practiced material is the collection of plastics in

which all the respondents (100%) reported practicing. Metals are very popular gathering also, as 62 respondents

(95%) replied that they are involved, the second place goes to food waste 59 respondents (91%). Less

percentage of respondents, 14 respondents (22%) indicated that they dealt with other wastes. This shows that

there was a great concentration on recyclable materials which is a measure of the economy in recycling the

resources in the informal sector.

Concerning the modes of transportation, the findings indicate that most of the respondents tend to use manual

carrying 40 respondents (62%) which mean that they use labor-heavy methods.

This is then accompanied by

the use of tricycles or carts by 18 respondents (28%), where only 7 respondents (10%), used motorized

transport. This implies that there is less access to mechanized infrastructure that can be a limit to efficiency of

operation.

With regards to the disposal sites, majority 52 respondents (80%) dispose their waste at dumpsites with 9

respondents (14%) disposing the waste in open spaces and only 4 respondents (6%) employing waste

management facilities. The low accessibility or access to the formal waste disposal facilities represents this

pattern.

Lastly, the findings on the most common time of waste collection reveal that most waste collection activities

are performed in the morning 28 respondents (43%), afternoon 20 respondents (31%) and evening or night 17

respondents (26%).

This indicates that even though collection is done all day long, there is the tendency to

group activities in the morning hours and this may be because of more waste and the working environment.

Comprehensively, the features of the operations indicate that informal waste collection is extremely adaptive

and resource-focused, and recyclable materials are of high priority, along with an extensive geographical

coverage and usage of labor-intensive processes in an environment with low levels of infrastructural assistance.

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Table 2: Operational Characteristics of Informal Waste Collectors

Operational Variable

Category

Frequency

Percentage

Perception of Importance in Waste Management

Very important

52.3%

Important

32.3%

Not sure

9.2%

Not important

6.2%

Awareness of Formal Waste Management Systems

Yes

43.1%

56.9%

Willingness to Integrate Into Formal System

Yes

75.4%

24.6%

Perceived Benefits of Integration

Improved income

41.5%

Better working conditions

27.2%

Access to social protection

18.5%

Job security

12.3%

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Perceived Barriers to Integration

Fear of losing

independence

30.8%

Lack of trust in authorities

26.2%

Bureaucratic procedures

23.1%

Low education/skills

20.0%

Source: Field Survey, 2026.

Association between Socio-Demographic and Perceptual Factors and Willingness to Integrate: Chi-

Square Test

Chi-square test was done to determine the relationship between the variables chosen and intentions to integrate

into formal systems.

The findings have shown that there is no significant relationship between gender and

willingness to integrate (χ² (1) = 0.842, p = 0.359). This is an indication that there is no significant difference

between male and female respondents in terms of willingness to integrate.

In comparison, there is statistically significant relationship between awareness of formal systems and

willingness to integrate (χ² (1) = 6.452, p = 0.011). This means that the more people are sensitive to formal

systems, the more they are likely to demonstrate a desire to integrate.

Likewise, the willingness is strongly connected with perception of the significance of integration (χ² (1) = 7.823,

p = 0.050). Even though the level of significance is minimal, the result indicates that those participants who

consider integration as a relevant factor are more likely to attend.

Moreover, the working conditions have a strong correlation with willingness to integrate (χ² (1) = 5.914, p =

0.015). This suggests that poor working conditions can inspire a person to want to fit in formal system, which

may be aimed at getting a better working environment and benefits.

In general, the results indicate that awareness, perceived importance, and working conditions are among the

most significant factors influencing willingness to integrate, but gender is not key.

Table 5: Association between Socio-Demographic and Perceptual Factors and Willingness to Integrate

Variable

Test

Value

Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)

Gender and Willingness to Integrate

Pearson Chi-Square

0.842

0.359

Likelihood Ratio

0.876

0.349

No. of Valid Cases

Awareness and Willingness to Integrate

Pearson Chi-Square

6.452

0.011*

Likelihood Ratio

6.781

0.009

No. of Valid Cases

Significant at p < 0.05

Perception of Importance and

Willingness

Pearson Chi-Square

7.823

0.050*

Likelihood Ratio

8.104

0.044

No. of Valid Cases

Working Conditions and Willingness

Pearson Chi-Square

5.914

0.015*

Likelihood Ratio

6.201

0.013

No. of Valid Cases

Source: Field Survey, 2026.

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Determinants of Willingness to Integrate: Logistic Regression Analysis

To establish the determinants of intentions to integrate into formal systems, a binary logistic regression analysis

was carried out. The findings as shown in Table 6 below indicate that there are indeed some variables which

have a significant influence on predicting willingness to integrate.

Formal systems awareness became a major and powerful predictor (β = 1.85, p = 0.010). The odds ratio (Exp(B)

= 6.36) depicts that the respondents who are conscious of formal systems are more likely to be willing to

integrate by more than 6 times than their non-conscious ones, other factors being equal. On the same note, the

perception of importance also has a statistically significant effect on willingness to integrate (β = 1.42, p =

0.029). The odds ratio (Exp(B) = 4.14) implies that those who see the integration as a significant aspect are

about 4 times more likely to say that they are willing to integrate.

Also a very important predictor (β = 1.67, p = 0.017) with odds ratio 5.31 is low income. This means that lower

income earners are more than five times more willing to integrate; this could be because of the expected

economic gains of formalization.

Similarly, worse working conditions also play a great role in increasing the chances of willingness to integrate

(β = 1.58, p = 0.020; Exp(B) = 4.85). This observation implies that such people in poor working conditions will

tend to find their way to formal systems in order to get better conditions.

Nevertheless, the level of education is not statistically significant in willingness to integrate (β = 0.52, p =

0.287), which implies that the level of formal education is not a significant determinant in this case.

The model

constant is negative and statistically significant (β = -2.31, p = 0.009), which indicates that at the zero level of

all predictors, the probability of willingness to integrate is low.

In general, the results indicate that the willingness to integrate is highly affected by awareness, perceived

importance, income status, and working conditions, whereas the level of education does not have a significant

impact on the willingness to integrate.

Table 6: Determinants of Willingness to Integrate

Variable

S.E.

Wald

Sig.

Exp(B)

Awareness of formal systems

1.85

0.72

6.61

0.010*

6.36

Perception of importance

1.42

0.65

4.77

0.029*

4.14

Low income

1.67

0.70

5.69

0.017*

5.31

Poor working conditions

1.58

0.68

5.39

0.020*

4.85

Education level

0.52

0.49

1.13

0.287

1.68

Constant

-2.31

0.88

6.89

0.009

0.10

Significant at p < 0.05

Source: Field Survey, 2026.

Model Summary

The summary statistics of the model shows that the logistic regression model fits the data reasonably well. The

-2 Log Likelihood value of 41.27 represents the overall goodness of fitness of the model and the lower the

value, the better the model fits as compared to a null model.

The Cox and Snell R2 value of 0.31 is an indication that the independent variables put in the model explain

about 31% of willingness to integrate. Nonetheless, since Cox and Snell R2 do not take a value of 1 in the

maximum, Nagelkerke R2 will give a more interpretable estimate.

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The Nagelkerke R2 of 0.42 represents the willingness to integrate whose proportion is explained by the model

is 42%.

This indicates a moderate level of explanatory power indicating that although the predictors included

play a significant role in explaining the outcome, there are other unknown variables that can affect the

willingness to integrate.

The model has a good and acceptable level of explanatory strength of behavioral research.

Table 7: Model Summary

-2 Log likelihood

Cox & Snell R Square

Nagelkerke R Square

41.27

0.31

0.42

Classification Accuracy of the Model

Findings of the classification show that the logistic regression model has a good predictive capability. The

model is right in classifying 78.5% of the cases, which implies that the level of accuracy in prediction of the

willingness to integrate is good.

In particular, the model is extremely accurate in the prediction of willingness to integrate respondents, with a

hit rate of 47/49 and a hit rate of 95.9%. This means that the model is very efficient in recognizing those that

are prone towards integration.

Conversely, the model has an accuracy of 12/16 cases in predicting 75.0% of the respondents who are not

willing to integrate.

Although this is a bit lower than the accuracy of the prediction of the “Yes” category, it

indicates that there is a satisfactory and acceptable level of performance.

Generally, these findings indicate that the model possesses a great predictive power, especially when it is used

to determine positive cases (willingness to integrate), but its predictive power is relatively weak when it comes

to negative outcomes.

Table 8: Classification Accuracy

Observed

Predicted Yes

Predicted No

% Correct

Yes

95.9%

75.0%

Overall Percentage

78.5%

Source: Field Survey, 2026.

DISCUSSION

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Labor Market Dynamics

The results show that informal waste collection is still a strongly male activity, and 71 percent of the

participants are males.

This confirms the previous literature that describes the waste collection, in general,

especially physically intensive and risky processes, as male-dominated (Dias, 2020; Samson, 2020).

Nevertheless, this observation does not match findings of other researchers like Gutberlet et al. (2021), which

note that women are quite prevalent in informal waste management, especially in sorting and recycling

divisions. The difference indicates that the involvement of genders in informal waste economies is very

situational and embedded in the socio-cultural cultures, issues of safety, and availability of waste streams, as

also manifested in the literature reviewed.

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The pre-eminence of young people, in particular, in the 25-34 year category, supports the thesis of informal

waste collection as a labor absorption tool in high unemployment and low formal sector opportunities situations

(Medina, 2018).

This result reinforces general evidence that informal sectors are livelihood options among the

economically active population that cannot be engaged in formal jobs. Nonetheless, the comparatively low

involvement of the older population is consistent with the literature on the physical aspect of the waste picking

(Schenck et al., 2019), which implies that there might be some sustainability issues associated with long-term

participation.

The large percentage of people who lacked formal education (62%) puts a strong emphasis on the available

research, which considers engagement in informal sectors as the lack of human capital and structural exclusion

(OECD, 2022; Dias, 2020). Nevertheless, the outcome of the regression analysis indicating education has no

significant effect on will to integrate into formal systems refute the common beliefs that education is an

important factor in determining institutional participation.

This observation is consistent with the new literature

that highlighted that the financial incentives and working conditions can be more influential than the

educational level in behavioral choices (Aparcana, 2019).

System Efficiency and Operational Practices

In this study, it is revealed that informal waste collectors are at the center of the various phases of the value

chain of waste such as collection, sorting, and recycling.

The fact that they are universally engaged in the house

waste collection activities, and their involvement in the organic and commercial waste processing is high, is a

strong indication of earlier researchers that informal actors are critical in bridging services delivery gaps in the

emerging urban systems (Kaza et al., 2018; Wilson et al., 2019).

This is in line with the literature reviewed on

the fact that formal systems usually have limited ability to deliver complete waste services thus implicitly

depending on informal actors.

The eclectic mix of modes of collection such as street collection, dumpsite recovery, and door-to-door service

also lends credence to Aparcana (2019) who claims that informal systems are more adaptive, decentralized, and

flexible compared to formal systems. Nevertheless, the same flexibility supports the argument in the literature

that informal systems tend to arise as a substitute and not a complement to official waste management because

of systemic inefficiencies (Ferronato & Torretta, 2019).

The recycling of material, especially plastics and metals, is high, which means that it is well aligned with the

concepts of the circular economy. The result is consistent with Gutberlet et al. (2021) and Scheinberg et al.

(2018), who emphasize the effectiveness of informal waste collectors in the recovery of resources. Still, current

sources of infrastructural bottlenecks that restrict productivity and scalability are supported by the use of labor-

intensive techniques and the lack of access to mechanized transport (Guerrero et al., 2021).

Intense use of dumpsites and little utilization of formal waste infrastructure are consistent with the results by

Ferronato and Torretta (2019) that suggest that infrastructural shortcomings drive informal actors to

environmentally inefficient behavior. Therefore, although informal collectors contribute to recycling, their

work can also be a threat to the environment, which underlines a paradox that can also be stressed in the

literature reviewed.

Financial Inclusion and Economic Vulnerability

The results indicate that there was an observed high level of income instability among informal waste collectors

as most of them earned in the low income bracket with high variability.

This is a strong argument in favor of

OECD (2022) and Dias and Ogando (2021) since both authors refer to income volatility as one of the defining

characteristics of informal economies. The prevalence of cash-transactions and the use of intermediaries

facilitate Medina (2018) who asserts that informal waste economies are entrenched in value chains of

exploitation where intermediaries get a disproportionate share of value.

Moreover, low degree of formal

contractual involvement also endorses literature that emphasizes weak incorporation to formal economic

systems (Scheinberg et al., 2018).

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The large-scale unavailability of financial services and credit is a solid argument in favor of available evidence

on the relationship between informality and financial exclusion (OECD, 2022; Gutberlet, 2021).

This

strengthens the formal system of restraint on the career ladder in the industry.

Nevertheless, the observation that a significant percentage of the interviewed participants are accomplishing

occasional savings somewhat refutes the prevalent discourse that informal employees are not part of financial

systems at all. Rather, it favors new points of view that informal workers, in turn, have underdeveloped financial

behaviors that can be exploited with inclusive financial interventions (Dias & Ogando, 2021).

Awareness, Perceptions, and Integration Willingness

The increased degree of self-identification of informal waste collectors about their role in the waste

management process substantially support Samson (2020) who points out the presence of a solid sense of

occupational identity despite the institutional marginalization.

Nevertheless, the unawareness regarding formal waste management systems is in support of UNEP (2021),

which ranks information asymmetry as the significant obstacle to stakeholder integration. The statistically

significant correlation between awareness and readiness to integrate further promotes behavioral theories and

empirical evidence that knowledge is one of the major determinants of participation.

The great willingness to integrate (75.4%) highly aligns with Aparcana (2019), who points out those informal

employees are typically receptive to formalization when it is apparent that they receive actual advantages.

However, the existence of a non-persuasive minority is in approval of OECD (2022) and Samson (2020), who

point to the fact that formalization projects may be perceived with a grain of salt because of the fear of losing

autonomy.

The presentation of economic gains (an increase in income and better working conditions) as the main drivers

is a support of the rational choice theory and the conformity to the literature that raises economic incentives as

the major drivers of formalization (Dias, 2020). On the other hand, the issues of loss of independence, distrust

of authorities, and the barriers of bureaucracy are firmly supportive of the sources that suggest that the top-

down formalization strategies tend to fail because of the mistrust and the absence of inclusiveness (UNEP,

2021).

Integration Predictors: Inferential Analysis

The regression results unlock the awareness of formal waste management systems as the best predictor of

willingness to integrate.

The outcome gives solid empirical evidence to UNEP (2021) and fits the general

behavioral theories, specifically, the knowledge-action nexus, according to which people are more inclined to

participate in institutional processes when they have sufficient information and knowledge about possible

benefits and procedures. Here awareness minimizes uncertainty, eliminates misinformation and amplifies

perceived permissibility of systems of formality. The same result is also indicative of the claim of Dias and

Ogando (2021) that informational barriers are one of the biggest limitations to the inclusion of informal workers

in formal governance systems. Therefore, raising awareness is not just an informational activity, but a strategy

that can influence behavioral intentions and the results of participation.

Moreover, the perceived occupational importance statistically is important, which supports the applicability of

social capital theory in the explanation of integration behavior. The result implies that employees who

understand that their job has a societal and environmental worth tend to support formalization processes.

This

agrees with Scheinberg et al. (2018) who believe that recognition and legitimacy increase collective identity

and result in cooperative engagement. In that light, the perceived importance serves as a kind of symbolic

capital and enhances self-worth and encourages involvement in institutional arrangements.

It also means that

the incorporation of strategies that recognize and appreciate the efforts of informal waste collectors have higher

chances of success than the incorporation of strategies that undermine the role of informal waste collectors.

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The powerful impact of low income and unfavorable working conditions on the readiness to integrate serves to

be a good case study in support of livelihood security frameworks.

Those frameworks underline the fact that

people who work in the conditions of economic vulnerability have a higher probability to seek opportunities

that allow them to receive guaranteed income, better working conditions, and social protection. These results

are in line with those of Dias (2020), who defines occupational risk and income insecurity as the factors that

trigger interest in formalization in waste pickers. Economic hardship in this research seems to be a push factor,

which makes formal systems more appealing as risk reduction and welfare enhancing mechanisms. It implies

that the formalization policies that are framed in terms of real economic pays, such as constant income, credit

access, better workplace safety, etc. are bound to be more accepted by informal employees.

Nevertheless, education is not found to have any significant impact, which is another significant deviation of

the traditional human capital theory which has always held that the level of education increases the probability

of joining formal institutions.

This observation goes against these types of assumptions but rather supports the

new directions of the literature that behavioral, economic, and institutional influences might have a stronger

impact on decision-making in informal situations (Aparcana, 2019).

What it means is that readiness to

assimilate is not always determined by educational level but rather it is influenced by perceived advantages,

experiences, and structural factors. In turn, any policy with educational preconditions to participate in formal

systems will ostracize a large percentage of willing participants, and can without intent contribute to the

strengthening of existing inequalities.

The fact that the moderate explanatory power of the model (measured using Nagelkerke R2) points to a

relatively small significance of identified variables implies that the complexity of the integration dynamics is

not explained comprehensively. This finding corroborates the work of Guerrero et al. (2021), who note that the

waste management systems in the developing situations are informed by a wider range of institutional and

socio-political influences.

Such variables as institutional trust, the quality of the governance, and the quality of

social networks are likely to be significant in the determination of the outcomes of integration. For instance,

distrust of the government can help avoid even when there are economic advantages, whereas effective social

networks can either promote or inhibit integration based on group standards and group attitudes.

Furthermore, the results indicate that policy-making and implementation strategies might be of significance.

The integration outcomes can be greatly improved with participatory governance structures, transparency in

the decision making process and involvement of the stakeholders, through establishing trust and minimizing

resistance. This is congruent with UNEP (2021) and Gutberlet et al. (2021), who believe that to achieve

successful integration, it is essential not only to have economic incentives but also institutional changes, the

priorities of which should be inclusivity and collaboration.

On the whole, the inferential analysis demonstrates that the willingness to integrate is a multidimensional

phenomenon, which is largely influenced by the awareness, economic vulnerability, and attitudinal parameters,

but not the traditional socio-demographic traits. This highlights the necessity of a change towards a paradigm

shift in policy design-no longer should strictly formalized models of top-down models be used, but rather, more

adaptive, inclusive and behaviorally based practices paying attention to the realities those informal waste

collectors live.

Policy and Theoretical Implications

The results are well aligned with the current literature trends, which are based on the idea that informal waste

collectors should be introduced into formal systems to boost efficiency, sustainability and social inclusion

(Gutberlet et al., 2021; Scheinberg et al., 2018).

Nevertheless, the research also contributes to and builds upon current literature findings and proves that

structural barriers, including financial exclusion, lack of infrastructures, and institutional mistrust, should be

addressed through integration (OECD, 2022; UNEP, 2021).

These findings also indicate the relevance of

participatory and inclusive forms of formalization over the coercive top-down methods, which agree with

Aparcana (2019), and Dias and Ogando (2021).

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Theoretically, the research builds upon the already existing frameworks by showing that economic and

perceptual variables have more effect than the traditional socio-demographic variables like education.

The

observation undermines traditional models and demands more integrated solutions that embrace behavioral,

institutional as well as socio-economic aspects.

Overall Synthesis

On the whole, the findings contribute to a great extent to the existing literature on the importance of informal

waste collectors in urban waste organizations, especially in terms of resources recovery and livelihood

provision. Nevertheless, the research still refutes and narrows down the previous assumptions about the impact

of education and financial exclusion, emphasizing the need of context-specific and behaviorally informed

policy intervention.

The paper highlights that informal waste collectors have a valuable role in ensuring environmental

sustainability and economic systems but their potential is limited by structural weakness and institutional

marginalization.

The willingness to integrate is very high and it poses a significant challenge to the

policymakers to come up with inclusive, efficient and sustainable systems of managing waste in a way that

would help close the divide between the formal and informal sectors.

CONCLUSION

This study endeavored to discuss the socio-economic attributes, working modalities and integration

opportunities of the informal waste collectors in the Tamale Metropolis with the larger objective of enlightening

the inclusion and sustainable waste management policies. Findings emphasized the necessity of informal waste

collectors in city environmental management, especially in situations where formal systems are limited based

on poor infrastructure, financial resources and institutional capacity.

The researchers find out that most informal waste collectors are young, economically active, men with low

education, and thus this sector performs a vital role of providing livelihood in a marginalized population. With

their small human capital, informal waste collectors are shown to operate very efficiently especially in the waste

recovery and recycling, thus playing a significant role in the conservation of resources and the circular

economy. They operate across various streams of wastes and various points of collection, which signifies

flexibility and adaptability that formal systems usually deficient.

But these contributions are made in economically vulnerable and institutionally excluded situations. The results

indicate that the earning of informal waste collectors is low and unstable, there is little access to monetary

services and credit, and productivity resources are little possessed.

They are also limited by their dependency

on labor-intensive practices and informal organization of the markets, thus restricting productivity and stability

of the income. These organizational issues are further increased by the dismal working conditions, health

hazards, and legal inequalities.

Notably, the research shows that informal waste collectors are highly willing to join the formal waste

management system, which is motivated mostly by the anticipation to earn higher income; better working

conditions, and enjoys access to social protection. However, this good will is checked by huge obstacles such

as lack of awareness concerning formal systems; trust in authority, and fear of loss of operational autonomy as

well as bureaucratic intricacies. Inferential analysis also shows that awareness, perceived importance of

integration, levels of income, and working conditions are some of the determinants of integration willingness

but education and gender are not important predictors of integration willingness.

Largely, the paper identifies a paradoxical backdrop of the situation, namely, though informal waste collectors

play a key role in the organization of urban waste systems, they are structurally excluded.

The solution to this

disconnect is that policy interventions need to be deliberate, inclusive and context sensitive that appreciate and

need not weaken the livelihoods of the informal actors. The results hence offer a good empirical foundation of

rethinking the governance of waste in developing cities to more inclusive, efficient and sustainable systems.

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POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the results, the following policy recommendations may be suggested, each position of the main

stakeholders is also clearly defined:

Legalization of Informal Waste collectors

It is necessary to formally decide to accept informal waste collectors as stakeholders in the waste management

system. The local governments are expected to come up with a regulatory framework that identifies, licenses,

and protects informal workers through the law.

The incorporation of informal sector into other environmental

and urban development policies by the national policymakers should be considered. The legalization will

minimize harassment, a better working condition, and access to institutional support mechanisms.

Capacity Building and Skills Development Programs

There should be specific training programs to improve technological, entrepreneurial and organizational skills

of informal waste collectors.

Through NGOs and development partners, government agencies should offer

education on waste sorting technologies, occupational health and safety, and management of small businesses.

Research, curriculum development and community engagement programs can be supported by academic

institutions. These will enhance productivity and facilitate easier incorporation into the formal systems.

Infrastructure and Administrative Support

The local governments must invest in the infrastructure like the specific waste sorting facilities, storage

facilities and convenient disposal facilities.

Moreover, equipment including protective gear, tricycles, and

motorized transport should be provided. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) allow the participation of the private

sector in providing logistics and recycling technologies, and financial and technical assistance can be offered

by donor agencies. Enhanced infrastructure will make the process of efficiency, safety, and environmental

performance better.

Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment Programs

Informal waste collectors should be incorporated in formal financial systems through efforts.

Financial

institutions and microfinance institutions ought to develop customized financial products like low-interest

loans, savings plans, and micro-insurance plans that fit the informal workers. The governments and NGOs can

also promote financial literacy services and mediate to gain trust. By increasing access to credit, financial

services, investment will be facilitated in equipment, and incomes will be stabilized, leading to economic

resilience.

Mechanisms of Participatory Integration and Trust-Building

The strategies to implement integration must be based on bottom-up and participatory strategies that will

actively engage informal waste collectors in the process of making decisions.

Governments ought to facilitate

creation and empowerment of cooperatives and associations to have a voice in one hand. Civil society groups

are able to provide a platform of dialogue, advocacy as well as resolving conflicts. The establishment of trust

and inclusiveness will deal with the fear of marginalization, decrease formalization opposition, and increase

the effectiveness of policies.

Future Research Directions

Further research on the subject, which takes the form of longitudinal research designs are recommended to

evaluate the impacts of incorporation into institutionalized waste management systems on the livelihoods,

productivity, and well-being of informal waste collectors in the future.

These would give greater causal

information than cross-sectional information would offer.

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Also, comparative research in various cities and areas is required in order to reflect situational differences in

informal waste systems and integration performance.

Increasing the sample sizes and a mixed-methods design,

a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, would enhance the comprehension of behavioral,

institutional, and cultural mechanisms of affecting formalization.

More studies are also needed to investigate the contribution of institutional trust, quality of governance and

policy implementation structures, which it did not comprehensively address in this study but could be very

important in determining the success of integration.

Lastly, the research on how digital technologies, financial inclusion instruments and cooperative frameworks

can contribute to enhancing efficiency and inclusion in informal waste sector is an exciting project that can be

developed in both theory and practice.

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