Recovery Practices and Waste Valorization in Rabat

The modernization of the waste management system in Rabat has also led to a transformation within the informal sector. This evolution stems from the integration of informal waste pickers from the former Akrach landfill, located 17 km from Rabat, into a formal framework. In 2010, the establishment of the "At-Tawafouk" cooperative marked a major turning point, bringing these waste pickers together with the support of local authorities and the company responsible for managing the public landfill.

This integration of informal waste pickers into the "At-Tawafouk" cooperative is seen as a form of resistance, aiming to ensure their livelihood while solidifying their position in the waste management market. The reorganization of their activities at the sorting center within the new Oum Azza landfill has fostered significant professional development, promoting recycling and improving working conditions. This transition raises questions about recovery and waste valorization practices, as well as the socio-economic and environmental dynamics underlying them.

To fully understand this transition, interviews were conducted with the workers of the "At-Tawafouk" cooperative. Fieldwork enabled the collection of in-depth data on waste recovery practices, as well as on the processes of sorting, valorization, and the economic circulation of waste materials. The analysis of these interviews also shed light on the various circuits and networks of actors, both national and international, that influence these practices, as well as the urban spaces where they unfold.