Integrating Local Economies into Circular Systems

Tackling plastic waste works best when communities are involved.

Because plastic shows up in neighbourhoods, villages and towns, that’s also where many of the best solutions start. Local people – from waste pickers and youth groups to traders and craftspeople – often play a quiet but vital role in keeping materials out of the environment.

Rather than building systems from the top down, it helps to bring together local government, recyclers, manufacturers and communities to find practical ways forward. Supporting small-scale collectors and micro-enterprises can create jobs while strengthening local recycling efforts.

It’s also important to recognise the informal sector. In many places, it’s waste pickers who are doing most of the recovery work – but they’re rarely included in planning or policy. Offering them support, fair pay and a proper voice can make recycling systems fairer and more effective for everyone.

At Flipflopi, we’ve worked closely with communities to explore approaches like training waste collectors, setting up business support, and trialling barter systems.

You can find some of these ideas – and what we’ve learned – in our Local Outreach Toolkit.