Voluntary recycling in Quito: factors associated with participation in a pilot programme

This paper describes a pilot recycling programme in Quito and the factors associated with residents’ participation in separating their wastes. This municipal programme extended garbage collection to previously unserved neighbourhoods through micro-enterprises formed by residents which provided separate collection services (on different days) for organic (compostable), recyclable and non-recyclable wastes, and delivered these to municipal depots. The revenues from the sale of recyclables went to funds to support neighbourhood improvements. A combination of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and a household survey identified the steps that would have to be taken to increase and sustain residents’ separation of wastes – for instance, a more reliable collection service, more evidence that the funds generated were being used for neighbourhood improvement and a better information system about the programme. The research also highlighted two other issues. The first was the need for better integration between recycling programmes and existing informal waste collection systems. The second was the importance of involving programme beneficiaries in the design of local development interventions, such as the recycling programme analyzed here, for them to be sustainable.