Recycling co-op improves livelihoods for street waste sorters in Morocco

November 24, 2015 by Stephanie McCauley

recycleIn Morocco, an effort that began in 2011 is now employing 150 people to sort waste for recycling. The Attawafoq Cooperative is one of 16 waste sorting centers that hire individuals who previously sorted waste on the streets to work indoors earning a salary and social security benefits. Morocco currently recycles only 8% of municipal waste and has 220 informal dumping sites. This community service aims to help the country meet its goals of closing those dumping sites and recycling 20% of waste by 2020.

Climate Protection: Reduces emissions from landfills and use of excess raw materials Energy & Mobility: Saves energy from goods production Jobs & Assets: Employs individuals who previously had no formal job Health, Well-Being, & Safety: Increases respect and safety for individuals who previously worked on the streets Connection: Allows citizens to contribute to a cleaner, less wasteful community

This post is part of a series on examples of ​multisolving​, or climate-smart policies that simultaneously work to mitigate climate change while providing co-benefits such as the ones described above. The multiple benefits analysis was done using the ​FLOWER framework​.