BORDER SCAVENGING - A CASE-STUDY OF ALUMINUM RECYCLING IN LAREDO, TX AND NUEVO-LAREDO, MEXICO

An intensive informal recycling system exists in the neighboring citie s of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, TX. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted in the area. It was found that the recovery of aluminum is carried out by three types of individuals: dumpsite scave ngers, street scavengers and source-separation at homes and small busi nesses. Further, scavenging activities can be broken down into full-ti me and part-time. These individuals recover approximately 75% of the c ans consumed by the area's population. Aluminum recovery in the area s hows strong linkages with the formal sector and with the international economy. The informal recovery of aluminum in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo illustrates the international economic integration between Mexico and the US on their common border. This paper challenges previous charact erizations of scavengers as being poor and marginal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.