Jeongwoo William Ban
St. Paul’s School
Abstract
This paper examines the disparity in recycling practices between affluent and underprivileged
communities, highlighting how recycling is often perceived as a privilege in poorer neighborhoods
within developed nations. Despite the high volume of waste generated globally, only a small fraction
is recycled, with significant variations in recycling rates between wealthy and low-income areas. This
review explores the socioeconomic, infrastructural, and educational barriers that contribute to these
disparities. Key factors include inadequate waste management infrastructure, low public awareness,
and socioeconomic constraints such as transient populations and low education levels. The paper
also applies the Kuznets curve to understand recycling behaviors in developing nations, emphasizing
how economic development initially exacerbates environmental harm but later leads to improved
waste management practices. Recommendations include fostering community-based environmental
justice programs and adopting circular economy models to enhance recycling rates and
environmental sustainability across all communities.
