Inside the Informal Recycling Economy: How it Really Works with John Chweya

In this episode, John Chweya, Kenya’s leading waste picker representative, explains how the informal recycling system really works. From child waste picking to leading an association of 36,000 workers, he breaks down the hidden economics of waste: who earns, who exploits, and what waste pickers actually need to improve their lives.We cover:• How middlemen capture up to 80% of the value• Health risks and unsafe landfill conditions• Why most recycling depends on informal workers• Real solutions that lift waste pickers out of poverty• How waste pickers are shaping global plastic policyA must-listen for anyone working in recycling, circularity, sustainability, or social impact.