The waste sector and informal entrepreneurship in developing world cities

Conclusion: It is evident from the experience of cities across the developing world that the waste economy is a significant area for informal entrepreneurship. The overall picture is one in which the majority of activities are unsupported and exist at bare survival levels. The most promising areas for SMME growth appear in circumstances in which the importance of informal recovery systems is acknowledged and accommodative rather than prohibitive policy interventions have been undertaken. More especially, entrepreneurship opportunities are emerging in the context of local initiatives nested within a changing environment for urban waste management. Nevertheless, a critical lesson from the experience of the developing world is of the need for a set of support interventions to assist the growth of these emerging SMMEs in the waste economy, not least through the innovation of programmes of micro-credit support and business development services. The role of waste recovery as an element for livelihood creation demands the attention of local governments, NGOs and CBOs in developing world cities. In the context of policy development for African cities, some of the positive lessons of the Asian experience are worth further exploration in terms of informing future waste management planning. © 2001 Transaction Publishers.