Research

Work in progress: From the shadows to the spotlight : Analyzing the heterogeneity and formalization of informal waste pickers in Bamako using a mixed method approach, with Sylvie Ferrari (BSE, University of Bordeaux) and Matthieu Clément (BSE, University of Bordeaux). 

Abstract: This article provides an analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of informal waste pickers in the city of Bamako, with a particular focus on the process of formalizing their activities. To achieve this, we adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collected in the field between February and April 2021. Based on the quantitative survey data, we develop a typology of informal waste pickers to highlight the heterogeneity of their profiles. The qualitative data enrich the analysis by exploring the opinions and experiences of waste pickers, as well as those of other stakeholders interviewed regarding the socio-economic and working conditions of waste pickers. These qualitative insights help validate the results obtained using the quantitative method. Finally, we highlight the strong support among the surveyed waste pickers for a formalization process, which could involve the creation of associations and/or cooperatives.

Keywords: waste management, informal waste pickers, stigmatization, formalization, Bamako 

Work in progress: How Much Are Households Willing to Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management services in Bamako? A Contingent Valuation Study, with Sylvie Ferrari (BSE, University of Bordeaux) and Matthieu Clément (BSE, University of Bordeaux). 

Abstract: This study empirically estimates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) of households for improved household solid waste management (HSWM) services in Bamako, Mali. Using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), it assesses both the magnitude of WTP and its socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental determinants. Data were collected between March and April 2021 from 457 heads of households across Bamako’s six communes. The two-step Heckman selection model was applied to correct for sample selection bias inherent to stated preference methods (Heckman, 1979).

Results show that 93.05% of respondents expressed WTP for enhanced waste management services, with an average predicted WTP of 1,582.76 CFA Francs (≈ €2.41) per household per month. The key determinants of WTP include education level, household size, waste precollection mode, occupational status, and municipality of residence. Higher education and larger households are positively associated with WTP, while households relying on municipal precollection services are willing to pay significantly more (+907 CFA Francs). Conversely, lower income categories such as artisans, students, and job seekers exhibit lower WTP values. Significant spatial disparities were observed, with left-bank communes (1-4) reporting the highest WTP, and right-bank communes (5-6) the lowest.

These findings reveal strong environmental awareness among Bamako households, despite economic constraints, and provide valuable guidance for designing equitable and sustainable MSWM financing mechanisms. The study contributes to the environmental economics literature by offering the first empirical estimate of household WTP for improved waste management services in Bamako, thereby supporting evidence-based policymaking in urban environmental governance.

Keywords: household waste management, contingent valuation method, willingness-to-pay, Bamako

Work in progress: From the Pigouvian Tax to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) : Rethinking the Waste Hierarchy in the Global South

Abstract: This paper focuses on the economic foundations of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It traces EPR’s intellectual roots, inspiring by the Pigouvian tax, designed to internalize environmental externalities through obligations imposed on producers. The intervention also highlights the success of the EPR within the European Union (EU) context. However, the direct transposition of this model to the Global South, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, where informal economies dominate waste management, encounters profound structural and institutional challenges. This disconnect raises a central question: how can this conceptual model be rethought to be effective and equitable outside its original context? Confronting the limitations of direct transplantation, this article argues for a paradigm shift toward a hybrid EPR model. This adapted framework is built on three pillars: the formal integration of the informal sector into governance, the creation of tailored financial mechanisms for fair compensation and investment, and a pragmatic re-contextualization of the waste hierarchy to support local practices like reuse and repair. The proposed model seeks to bridge the formalinformal divide, aiming to construct waste management systems that are not only environmentally effective but also socially just for the realities of the Global South.

Keywords: Pigouvian Tax; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); Waste Hierarchy, Global South