GuatemalaInformalSWM

Name of the informal group please write here a brief summary paragraph. Informal workers involved in Informal Solid Waste Management are called in different roles: Sorters: "Guajeros", "Separadores", Collectors: "Basurero", "Recolectores", Intermediaries: "Compradores"

Main content, don't forget to always put the name in italic by using: italic

Description

For the solid waste informal chain, we´re describing the main roles in the informal realm

What is the name of the informal worker in local language?

How does this translate, and who does it refer to?​

How do you recognise members of this group? Do they have any specific traits?

Other questions to address could be: Can this worker be described through a persona? What are their perceptions and motivations? Typically associated with a gender? Age group? Is this a full time or part time occupation? They work in collectives or individually? Is this a growing group?​ What are their struggles? What does their daily life look like? What are their needs?

Perceptions and Motivation

Intrinsic perceptions and motivations

How does this group perceive itself (or the individuals within)?

What motivates members of this group?

Extrinsic perceptions and motivations

How this group perceived by others (including yourself)?

Other questions to be addressed could be: Is there a cultural or historic reference in the name? Does the name have a positive or negative connotation?​ Are individuals in this group generally driven by survival or a business model?​ Are there positive aspects associated with this group? For example, flexibility, freedom, agility, or self organization How do members of this group perceive more formal employment? What are the main deterrents of formalizing?​ Does this group have any specific needs?​

System

What is the role of the informal worker in the broader informal ecosystem?

Who do they interact with. What kind of relationships do they need?  Informal systems that have assembled a solid waste recovery chain Even though the waste collection has been operating with informal mechanisms through an autonomous[1] private service, many spontaneous environmental practices have emerged. These practices are a way to cope with the economic struggles most of the waste collection trucks’ employees face.

Apparently, the current conditions for waste collection workers aren´t meeting the minimum wage nor health benefits or programs[2]. Somehow, they have realized the economic value of recovering material either to reusage or recycling purposes. Without any technical knowledge, except their instinct to be resilient to economic issues, employees of yellow waste collection trucks have developed skills and have self-learned on how to sort waste into the main categories demanded by market.

What "problem or need" are they solving? Collection: Since most households generally mix the waste they put out, collectors initiate a process of sorting waste during the collection routes, classifying by type of material in large sacks that are hanging from the trucks. If the waste from households was already sorted, the work would have been easier for them, avoiding getting messy during the process. And, what do collectors do with the sorted waste? Well, they know how to sell it to a spontaneous recovery network!

Other additional questions to be addressed could be:

What service or product is this group providing?​ What is that they need to deliver their service or product?​ Conditions, tools, skills to make a living​ Do they own their work tools? Their work?​ What sector does this group usually represent?​ Aproximately, how many people are represented by this group?" "how are they represented in the economy​? How has this sector been affected by public policy?​

Can you include a picture or a depiction? Collectors workers: Sorters: Intermediaries:

References

Insert here any external references https://acceleratorlabs.undp.org/content/acceleratorlabs/en/home/blogs.html?tagid=language:English&q=Guatemala