In the Philippines, garbage isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a growing crisis. Mountains of trash, driven by rapid urbanization, a culture of single-use plastics, and inadequate waste facilities, continue to pile up in communities nationwide.

Local government units struggle to keep up, with many areas lacking proper collection systems, sanitary landfills, or recycling facilities.

In this messy reality, the informal waste sector — the waste pickers, junk shop owners, itinerant buyers — plays a critical but often invisible role. They roam streets, rummage through piles of mixed waste, and recover recyclables that would otherwise end up in dumpsites. In doing so, they help reduce landfill dependency and keep valuable materials in circulation.

But their work comes with serious risks. Many handle broken glass, sharp metals, and hazardous plastics without proper gear. The job can lead to wounds, infections, eye irritation, respiratory illnesses, or long-term health issues like asthma. And because they’re not part of the formal system, they often have no stable income, no social security, and no access to health services.

Recognizing this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is taking steps to change the picture.

The agency is working to formally integrate informal waste workers into the country’s solid waste management (SWM) system — a move that promises not only safer working conditions but also fairer economic opportunities.

“The informal waste workers remain excluded from the solid waste management value chain, yet their work is indispensable and forms the very backbone of a supply chain that advances environmental sustainability,” said DENR Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla. “Faced with the growing weight of plastic pollution, we must build stronger partnerships that turn our environmental goals into tangible results that benefit all sectors, protect all ecosystems, and uplift all communities.”

This year, the DENR-EMB will give grants for weighing scales to 50 junk shops in Quezon City to help them track and increase waste recovery, link workers to larger recycling markets, and connect them to enterprises complying with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act.

Workers will also receive training in organizational building, business planning and financial literacy — giving them tools to run more sustainable livelihoods.