Enabling the informal recycling sector to prevent plastic pollution and deliver an inclusive circular economy

Recycling by the informal sector provides a rapid, inexpensive solution to plastic pollution, whilst supporting the livelihoods via their inclusion and empowerment. This solution will have the greatest benefit to the environment if supporting interventions are targeted at types of plastic pollution that are the most damaging from an ecological and wider risk perspective. Interventions should target three aspects of the pollution: reducing barriers to collection, improving the revenue from the materials and wider informal recycler remuneration, and increasing the quality of the materials. Done well, these interventions will increase the collection rate, reduce pollution from plastics, and help millions of people escape poverty. They present a scalable international solution to a global challenge; and are likely the only viable solution to the widespread lack of solid waste services and infrastructure across low- and middle-income countries. •Recycling by the informal sector provides a rapid, inexpensive solution to stop plastic pollution.•Targeting items that are most damaging from an ecological and wider risk perspective supports harm minimization.•Reducing barriers to collection and increasing revenue from plastics recovery will better support the informal sector.•Such interventions will increase plastics collection rate, reduce pollution, and help millions of people escape poverty.