The Role of Informal and Semi-Formal Waste Recycling Activities in a Reverse Logistics Model of Alternative Food Networks

Abstract

In emerging economies, economic growth and rapid population migration into urban areas and cities has led to challenges such as land occupation, environmental pollution, and increasing amounts of household solid waste often with little opportunity to ameliorate the negative effects. The lack of access to waste services affects 3 billion people across the world. This research uses Brazil as a case study of a reverse logistics model to create alternative food networks in semi-urban areas to reduce the environmental and social impact of food waste. Combining informal and formal municipal solid waste management networks has great merit to provide an economic return at local government and organisational level, and improve working conditions and nutrient security of some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world.