Wastecare: Exploring the invisible relations of recycling in Barcelona

Join us for a talk by Julián Porras Bulla entitled "Wastecare: Exploring the invisible relations of recycling in Barcelona."

About the speaker 

Julián Porras is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Distance Education (UNED). His teaching and research lie at the intersection of the Sociology of Work, Economic Sociology, waste studies, and environmental conflicts. Specifically, he researches informal work and its relationship with waste management in Barcelona, Spain.

Abstract:

This presentation examines the social dynamics that sustain urban waste management in Barcelona, focusing on the often-overlooked role of informal recyclers. It asks: what kinds of relationships connect informal recyclers, households, and formal waste systems, and how do these interactions shape the organization and functioning of urban recycling? Preliminary findings suggest that informal recyclers play a far more significant role than commonly recognized. While centered on Barcelona, the study also offers insights for other cities—particularly in the Global North, where curbside collection systems for segregated waste prevail, and in the Global South, where many cities are transitioning toward source-separated collection. In both contexts, informal recyclers remain key yet contested actors, highlighting the tensions between work, waste, and interdependency.