Informal waste pickers (IWPs) are a big part of how cities handle trash, yet their work is often overlooked. While this practice has long been studied in developing nations, it is only recently gaining attention in places like Barcelona, Spain. Researchers decided to take a close look at how these workers fit into the city's recycling system. They gathered information through on-the-ground observations, surveys, talks with community members, and data from other sources. The numbers they uncovered were striking. Between 1,640 and 1,940 people work as informal waste pickers in Barcelona, putting in nearly 60 hours each week for roughly €2 per hour — far below the country's minimum wage. These workers handle a massive share of the city's metal waste, collecting between 33% and 39% of it. Thei