Comparative Analysis of Informal PlasticWaste Recovery Systems Between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City
This study investigates informal plastic waste recovery networks in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, two rapidly urbanizing cities in Mainland Southeast Asia. Both contend with rising plastic waste generation, limited formal waste management systems, and expanding informal recovery networks, yet they differ notably in institutional capacity, economic development, and the recognition of informal labor within their waste economies. By examining how plastic waste circulate through both formal and informal systems in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, this study aims to understand the social, economic, and institutional dynamics that shape waste governance in these distinct yet interconnected contexts.
This study asks:
Fieldwork will combine participant observation, and secondary analysis to examine plastic circulation and recovery practices in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Comparing these cities provides a critical lens for examining how informal recovery networks contribute to sustainability, livelihoods, and environmental justice within emerging urban economies. Ultimately, the project aims to reveal how context-specific governance and local practices shape the possibilities and limitations of building more equitable and sustainable plastic waste management systems in Southeast Asia
Research Proposal Presentation:
This study asks:
- How do municipal and informal systems interact in managing plastic waste in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh?
- Who are the key actors in informal recovery networks, and how do their practices and relationships shape material and social flows?
- In what ways do local policies, urban infrastructures, and donor-driven initiatives influence the organization and recognition of informal plastic recovery work?
- How do the environmental and social impacts of plastic waste management differ across communities in both cities, particularly among those living or working near dumpsites, recycling areas, or informal settlements?
- What comparative lessons can be drawn from the two cities to inform more inclusive and sustainable approaches to urban plastic waste governance in Southeast Asia?
Fieldwork will combine participant observation, and secondary analysis to examine plastic circulation and recovery practices in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Comparing these cities provides a critical lens for examining how informal recovery networks contribute to sustainability, livelihoods, and environmental justice within emerging urban economies. Ultimately, the project aims to reveal how context-specific governance and local practices shape the possibilities and limitations of building more equitable and sustainable plastic waste management systems in Southeast Asia
Research Proposal Presentation: