Shifting perceptions of informal operators in the service and value chains: A retrospective of 40 years of observation and advocacy for informal recyclers and waste service providers, through the eyes of five global participant-researchers.

This article offers a reflective retrospective of the literature and practice on the sector. The authors have joined to share our experience and knowledge on the interface between the formal solid waste sector and informal recyclers and operators. Together, we discuss where this discourse has come from, where it is now, and where we, as practitioners, think it is going.

Operator models for delivering municipal solid waste management services in developing countries: Part B: Decision support.

This is the second of two papers reporting the results of a major study considering 'operator models' for municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in emerging and developing countries. Part A documents the evidence base, while Part B presents a four-step decision support system for selecting an appropriate operator model in a particular local situation. Step 1 focuses on understanding local problems and framework conditions; Step 2 on formulating and prioritising local objectives; and Step 3 on assessing capacities and conditions, and thus identifying strengths and weaknesses, which underpin selection of the operator model.