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Integrating the informal sector into urban plastic waste system: a system dynamics study of environmental and economic impacts.

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Title: Integrating the informal sector into urban plastic waste system: a system dynamics study of environmental and economic impacts.
Authors: Harfadli, Muhammad Ma'arij1 (AUTHOR) maarijharfadli@lecturer.itk.ac.id, Ramadan, Bimastyaji Surya2 (AUTHOR), Ulimaz, Mega3 (AUTHOR), Matsumoto, Toru3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Material Cycles & Waste Management. May2026, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p2511-2524. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Informal sector, *Integrated waste management, *System dynamics, *Policy sciences, *Ecological impact, *Economic impact, *Plastic recycling, *Plastic scrap
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
Abstract: Plastic waste poses a serious environmental challenge in rapidly urbanizing cities, particularly where informal waste collectors dominate material recovery. In many Global South cities, including Indonesia, these actors play a critical role in plastic recycling yet remain weakly integrated into formal waste management systems. This study examines the contribution of the informal sector to circular plastic waste management in Balikpapan, Indonesia, using a system dynamic modeling approach. Three policy scenarios are simulated over a ten-year period (2022–2033): Business as Usual (BAU), moderate intervention, and optimistic intervention. The model analyzes plastic material flows, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the economic performance of key informal actors, including scavengers, scrap dealers, and middlemen. The scenarios differ in levels of source separation, institutional integration, and technological adoption, such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) systems. Results indicate that the optimistic scenario delivers the strongest outcomes, reducing landfill-bound plastic waste by up to 99% and GHG emissions by up to 74% compared with BAU. Economic performance also improves substantially, with scrap dealers and middlemen achieving effectiveness levels above 90%. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of structured integration of informal waste actors for environmentally and economically sustainable urban plastic waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 193714148
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Integrating the informal sector into urban plastic waste system: a system dynamics study of environmental and economic impacts.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harfadli%2C+Muhammad+Ma'arij%22">Harfadli, Muhammad Ma'arij</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> maarijharfadli@lecturer.itk.ac.id</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ramadan%2C+Bimastyaji+Surya%22">Ramadan, Bimastyaji Surya</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ulimaz%2C+Mega%22">Ulimaz, Mega</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matsumoto%2C+Toru%22">Matsumoto, Toru</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Material+Cycles+%26+Waste+Management%22">Journal of Material Cycles & Waste Management</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p2511-2524. 14p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Informal+sector%22">Informal sector</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Integrated+waste+management%22">Integrated waste management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22System+dynamics%22">System dynamics</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Policy+sciences%22">Policy sciences</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+impact%22">Ecological impact</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+impact%22">Economic impact</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+recycling%22">Plastic recycling</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+scrap%22">Plastic scrap</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indonesia%22">Indonesia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Plastic waste poses a serious environmental challenge in rapidly urbanizing cities, particularly where informal waste collectors dominate material recovery. In many Global South cities, including Indonesia, these actors play a critical role in plastic recycling yet remain weakly integrated into formal waste management systems. This study examines the contribution of the informal sector to circular plastic waste management in Balikpapan, Indonesia, using a system dynamic modeling approach. Three policy scenarios are simulated over a ten-year period (2022–2033): Business as Usual (BAU), moderate intervention, and optimistic intervention. The model analyzes plastic material flows, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the economic performance of key informal actors, including scavengers, scrap dealers, and middlemen. The scenarios differ in levels of source separation, institutional integration, and technological adoption, such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) systems. Results indicate that the optimistic scenario delivers the strongest outcomes, reducing landfill-bound plastic waste by up to 99% and GHG emissions by up to 74% compared with BAU. Economic performance also improves substantially, with scrap dealers and middlemen achieving effectiveness levels above 90%. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of structured integration of informal waste actors for environmentally and economically sustainable urban plastic waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193714148
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10163-026-02559-7
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 2511
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Informal sector
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Integrated waste management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: System dynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Policy sciences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plastic recycling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plastic scrap
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Integrating the informal sector into urban plastic waste system: a system dynamics study of environmental and economic impacts.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Harfadli, Muhammad Ma'arij
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ramadan, Bimastyaji Surya
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ulimaz, Mega
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            NameFull: Matsumoto, Toru
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 28
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Material Cycles & Waste Management
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