Recognizing the People Behind Circularity: Integrating Waste Workers into an Inclusive Circular Economy

As the Philippines advances its transition to a circular economy, recognizing and integrating waste workers into local systems is essential to creating inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered waste management that benefits the environment, communities, and livelihoods.

Across towns and cities in the Philippines, the increasing amount of waste puts growing pressure on the waste systems. As these wastes end up in landfills and waterways, the communities are extremely affected by the plastic waste pollution, along with the landfills filling up. Years before the emergence of the circular economy into policy discussion, waste workers were already doing it. Each day, they collect, sort, recover materials, and keep those resources that can still be used. However, these efforts remain unnoticed and overlooked. 

Now,  as the transition to a circular economy advances,  the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) leaves one primary question: who makes circularity possible and who may be left behind?

The shift to the circular economy provided new job opportunities. However, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), without deliberate efforts, circular economy jobs continue to be informal, unstable, and unsafe. This is the reality among waste workers in the Philippines, who recover and sort materials, support local waste systems, often without safe conditions, fair income, and recognition. 

In Baguio City, as part of their initiative to strengthen their transition to a circular economy, by recognizing the workers who have played an important role in keeping the materials and waste out of landfills. The city has formalized, provided regular contracts, clearer roles, social protection, and access to training to their waste workers. While at the barangay level, they continuously support waste workers through training, organization, and gradual integration into local systems. These approaches highlight that improving waste management should not only focus on infrastructure but also provide support to the people who maintain the system every day. 

Meanwhile, in the City of Puerto Princesa, they support the waste workers through creating a pathway for recognition, safer working conditions, and stronger community participation for them. Through certification, training, and registration, the city was able to give waste workers access to opportunities that were formerly inaccessible to them. 

In Ormoc City, their approach to transitioning to a circular economy is changing the way workers are seen and included in local systems by recognizing, organizing, and making partnerships with them in waste diversion and livelihood efforts. 

Across these cities, the transition to a circular economy is already happening, but its impact will now depend on how this system becomes inclusive. Integrating waste workers into this transition strengthens local recovery systems, contributes to cleaner and healthier communities, and provides more stable livelihoods for families. Implementing this shift toward a more sustainable economy requires recognizing the workers who make circularity possible and placing people at the center of development. Furthermore, the circular economy needs to support workers through better conditions, access to services, and clear roles within local economies. The goal is to have a circular economy that must work for everyone, particularly for those who make circularity possible.

Reference:United Nations Development Programme, Diaz, E. P., Saito-Jensen, M., & Lopez, C. R. (2026, June 8). The Hands That Close the Loop. United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.undp.org/philippines/stories/hands-close-loop