Cities in developing countries are confronted with increasing problems in dealing with urban solid waste. Local governments cannot find the means to cope adequately with organic and inorganic waste from households, markets, factories, hospitals, etc., but are at the same time reluctant to accord any credit to waste pickers making a living from the collection and sale of recyclable waste, and thereby taking part in cleaning the city. This book deals with ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ handling of solid waste in an Indian city—Bangalore. The municipal services as well as the plight of thousands of men, women and children who make a living from waste are analysed. It also probes into the extensive trade and manufacturing of re-cycled glass, paper and plastics in Bangalore. A major purpose of this book is to advocate collaboration between all concerned in the management of solid waste, with the help of community based organisations, NGOs and the private sector. It helps in linking formal solid waste management, benefiting waste pickers, municipal exchequers, the recycling industry and the urban public at large. In several Indian cities, including Bangalore, such linkages have been put on the political agenda or have already started. Hence, a good under­standing of the role of each category of actors in ‘integrated’ solid waste management is required, both for scientific reasons and for adequate policy making. The book greatly contributes to the process of meeting these requirements. About the Author Isa Baud is a Professor in International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam and serves at Chair of the Board of CERES, National Research School. She did her research on unprotected employment and gender issues in urban industrial enterprises in India. She supervised the pilot research project on ‘Approaches to Urban Solid Waste Management, Linkages between formal and informal systems of source separation and recycling’ sponsored by the University of Amsterdam and the Ministry of Development Cooperation, the Netherlands, focusing on Bangalore, Madras and Hyderabad, India. Hans Schenk served at the Department of Human Geography, Planning and International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam, where he taught, did research and was involved in consultancies, with a focus on housing, planning and related aspects of urban Asia. He has published researches mainly on large and small Indian and other Asian cities. He was also the advisor to the pilot research project on solid waste management (see above).