Kavuş, Helin KardelenErköse, Hüseyin YenerEryar, Sıtkı Değer2023-09-112023-09-1120232076-0760https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070387https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14365/4780Informal recycling workers (IRWs), including waste pickers (WPs) and waste sorters, are essential constituents of sustainable ecosystems in many cities in the Global South. Despite their valuable contributions to the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable urban waste recycling, most IRWs work in precarious conditions. This paper examines recent efforts by local municipalities in Izmir to implement co-production design as a new institutional arrangement to generate green jobs for informal workers that provide high and stable incomes, job security, and social recognition. Using qualitative analyses of recent developments in the legal framework and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, this paper identifies the following challenges associated with the current co-production efforts as its main findings: the lack of fiscal and legislative support from the central government; failure to include all IRWs in the co-production schemes; and the potential exclusion of marginalized communities due to the arbitrary requirements of a security clearance, which limit the inclusion of IRWs in co-production efforts.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessco-productioninformal waste workerswaste pickersco-operativesgreen jobsdecent workwaste managementTurkeyIzmirRomani communityPICKERSECONOMYSECTORArticle10.3390/socsci120703872-s2.0-85166418475