WOMEN IN WASTE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING IN HO-CHI-MINH-CITY

The generation and management of urban solid waste is an urgent and gr owing problem in Hochiminh City, as elsewhere in the world. An importa nt contribution to solving the city's waste management problem is made by the recycling industry. The well-organized private system of colle ction, trade and recycling includes door-to-door itinerant buyers, ent irely women, who buy solid waste products from households; a range of small, medium, and big shopkeepers who purchase waste from the buyers; middle-men who link the shopkeepers with the recyclers; and the recyc ling or production units that transform products for sale to consumers . Earnings of itinerant buyers are low and may be declining. However, their self-employment is critical because they are often the main econ omic support of their families. Shopkeepers enjoy better standards of living but economic competition and recent environmental regulations t hreaten the survival of the industry. Policy options are offered for a ttempting to ensure the survival of recyclers and itinerant buyers, th ose who are most immediately vulnerable.