Gender and waste management: E-waste and plastic waste
The waste sector is assumed to be gender neutral, but gender inequalities and norms are embedded in almost every aspect of waste management, leading to a gendered division of labour. Acknowledging the links between gender inequality and waste management will be key to creating a more sustainable and equitable waste sector.
This series highlights the nexus between gender and waste management, in particular e-waste and plastic waste.
1. The role and experience of women in plastic waste management (UNEP-IETC, 2022)
This short material provides an overview of how gender plays out in plastic waste management, including how stereotypes influence the type of work and opportunities open to women.
2. The role and experience of women in e-waste management (UNEP-IETC, 2022)
This short material provides an overview of how gender influences e-waste management and illustrates how e-waste sector presents an untapped opportunity for women to excel.
3. Recommendations to improve women’s participation and experience in plastic and e-waste management (UNEP-IETC, 2022)
Drawing on the gender issues identified by the two sheets listed above on plastic waste and e-waste respectively, this material provides recommendations targeting specific levels, including policy level, sectoral/programmatic level, company/enterprise level, and individual levels.
4. Gender responsive programs: From inclusion to transformation – Guidance on how to mainstream gender in e-waste and plastic waste (UNEP-IETC, 2022)
The aim of this manual is to help guide programmatic interventions in e-waste and plastic waste management on effectively incorporating gender. It provides simple step-by-step guidance on designing, implementing, and monitoring programs with a conscious gender lens along with examples from the e-waste and plastic sectors.
