Abstract

This policy article explores the challenges of waste management in the Global South, with a particular focus on India. It examines how waste management functions across various Indian cities and their distinct ecosystems, involving both formal and informal participants and their roles. The research highlights the structural transformations in the sector driven by changes in local and hyperlocal policy paradigms. Additionally, it addresses the systemic marginalization faced by informal waste worker communities in India, who have historically been an essential part of the waste management system. With increasing emphasis on capital-intensive technological solutions and privatization, these informal workers face a growing risk of marginalization. In the conclusion, the article considers the connection with the overarching theme of the “social quality perspective” as an inclusive approach to waste management in India.