Inclusive Circular Economy in Ecuador: Plans for Reframing the Role of Grassroots Waste Pickers

Description

Abstract (English)

Abstract

This exploratory report (2023) examines the policy framework and early implementation measures for an Inclusive Circular Economy in Ecuador, focusing on the role and conditions of grassroots waste pickers. It synthesizes: (1) the legal framework (LOECI and the August 2023 Regulation); (2) the first national baseline/registry of waste pickers and key socioeconomic indicators published by MIES; (3) sector diagnostics (GRECI 2023, PNGIDS, and related studies); and (4) pilot initiatives and institutional advances (certification of competencies, plastics platform, GRECI project, RENAREC visibility).

Key findings: national plans increasingly integrate social inclusion and circularity; a majority of registered waste pickers live in poverty or extreme poverty; institutional coordination and municipal capacity are limited; public campaigns rarely revalue waste pickers; and recent advances (registry, certification, GRECI) provide entry points for formalization.

Priority recommendations: (1) operationalize the single registry with anonymized indicators; (2) set minimum reference prices and monitoring for recovered materials; (3) scale inclusive infrastructure (co‑ops, collection centers, green procurement); (4) expand certification and reconversion pathways; (5) run national revalorization campaigns to reduce stigma; (6) create a multi‑stakeholder governance forum and transition fund.

Intended audience: policy makers, municipal managers, civil society organizations, academic researchers, and international partners working on circular economy, waste governance and social inclusion.