The Role of Informal Waste Management in Urban Metabolism: A Review of Eight Latin American Countries
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The topic is interesting and has important stories in verbose text. However, the reviewer has following remarks.
1. Data processing and analysis methods are difficult to follow
2. Authenticity of results are poor because of poor graphic and tabular presentation.
3. Regional data needs to be compared with the more visual methods (charts, graphs, table etc).
4. Key results are difficult to follow for the common readers.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
1. The title of the article must be revised to include a "review". Example: Review of the relevant links of informal sector to urban metabolism. OR The role of the informal sector in urban metabolism in Latin America: A state-of-the-art review.
2. The abstract needs a complete overhauling to follow a standard abstract format. Purpose, methodology, findings, implications etc.
3. What is urban metabolism? I suggest authors create a section to explain this concept before the methodology.
4. The findings are well-written
5. Elaborate more on the implications of the study to further research, practice, policies and society at the conclusion section of the study.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors has additionally improve the paper by justfting the LCA method design and explaining the reuslts in detail. Although there is some suggestions not revised, the authors gives the acceptable reasons in the reply letter.
Author Response
I appreciate all comments, time, and effort to improve the manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
The paper provides an interesting perspective on "informal waste pickers' environmental contributionand link to urban metabolism". The authors may consider several suggestions to improve the paper for publication in an academic journal. The manuscript at its present version is seen to have several issues.
The introductory section does not describe the purpose of the research.
Furthermore, the part starting from line 46 "Sustainable shared management of waste ..." seems unconnected with the previous one. There is no flow between this part and the previous one. Consequently, it isn't clear what the authors are getting at.
The introduction section should be focused on the contextualization of the study, give a general idea about what the study is about, and supply a "structure" of the paper.
I suggest authors to focus more clearly on the main topic of this study. It is necessary to explain those aspects that are needed to contextualize the problem that the paper is solving.
Furthermore, I suggest presenting the structure of the article at the end of the introduction section.
It would be helpful to include a theorethical framework section as well.
The methodological section appears confused. It is not clear whether this is a methodology section or a methods section. It is recommended to completely re-write this section and clarify and describe both the principles, theories, values, research design, that supported the authors to choose which methods they use to conduct their study and the actual techniques and procedures used in research work.
Also, I suggest authors emphasize the keywords used by using quotation marks for all keywords, correct typos, and better organize the flow of information.
Similarly on the basis of the methodology also the results and conclusions must be revised.
The first part, from line 94 to 195, could represent the "Background section", because the authors ara analyzing the context, they observe the area, the situation, the environment.
As the authors are presening multiple cases to explore the topic, using evidence from different countries, the "Results section" can be an essential means to help to explain why what happen in one context it is not necessarily that it happen in others or vice versa.
In addition, as this is a literature review "The information gathered in this literature review was synthesized in Table 3 by the author" line 154, please add the bibliographic references to the table 3.
Following my previous comments, the conclusion section is rather weak and unfortunately does not provide deeper insight from a theoretical perspective for this study’s topic.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
Revise the sentence in lines 20-21 Abstract section, page-5 line-176 for better understanding. Rectify the abbreviation in line 99 under section 3 as it is similar to MSW on page 4, line 140. Mention a caption for each Table. Emphasize on potential global solutions to address quality of life and waste management based on the studies in Latin America under section 4.
Author Response
Lines 20-21 Abstract has been reworked.
Page 5, line 175. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Section 3, line 99. It was corrected in the previous section and on Page 4, line 140.
The request has been corrected and integrated into the document. Thank you very much.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The reviewer agrees with the major revisions made by authors.
However, the 1st and 2nd Paragraph of the introduction needs some references for further improvement.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 1.
I am grateful for your comments. Five new references have been included in the document. Here I am listing them.
1 Jain, A. Waste Management in ASEAN Countries; 2017; Vol. 1. https://doi.org/10.1177/074823379100700526
2 Bromley, R.; Wilson, T. D. Introduction: The Urban Informal Economy Revisited. In Latin American Perspectives; 2017; Vol. 45, pp 4–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0094582X17736043
3 Leal, W.; Brandli, L.; Moora, H.; Kruopien, J. Benchmarking Approaches, and Methods in the Fi Eld of Urban Waste Management. J. Clean. Prod. J. 2016, 112, 4377–4386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.065
4 Cohen, P.; Ijgosse, J.; Sturzenegger, G. Desarrollo de Planes de Inclusión Para Recicladores Informales: Una Guía Operativa; 2013
5 Wilson, D. C.; Kanjogera, J. B.; Soós, R.; Briciu, C.; Smith, S. R.; Whiteman, A. D.; Spies, S.; Oelz, B. Operator Models for Delivering Municipal Solid Waste Management Services in Developing Countries. Part A: The Evidence Base. Waste Manag. Res. 2017, 35 (8), 820–841. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X17705723
The total changes to the manuscript are listed as follows:
- New Title: The role of informal waste management in urban metabolism: A review of eight Latin American countries
- The abstract was rewritten and replaced with a new one.
- A reference to Table 1 was added.
- A reference to Table 2 was added
- Table 3. A section on marketing has been added.
- Figure 1. The production chain of recoverable materials from municipal solid waste was added. Own elaboration.
- Figure 2. Type of Organization of waste pickers in the World registered in the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers (Own elaboration).
- Figure 3. Organizations of waste pickers in the Americas. Registration of members of the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers is voluntary (Own elaboration).
- Tables S1, S2, and S3 were added to the supplementary section.
- The images were renumbered, and in the supplementary material, 17 photographs were incorporated.
- Nine additional references were added.
- Many small details were corrected.
We are grateful for the careful review and valuable suggestions of the reviewers.
Reviewer 2 Report
Authors failed to show how they addressed my comments. Do this and resubmit your paper for my review comments.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 2
Corrections made to the document are listed.
- Your suggestion to change the title.
Thanks for your comment.
The previous title was:
The informal sector: relevant link in urban metabolism
The current title is now:
The role of informal waste management in urban metabolism: A review of eight Latin American countries
- The abstract was revised and replaced.
- Figure 1 was made to help people understand how recoverable materials are taken from the bulk street collection.
- The concept of urban metabolism was explained as requested.
The total changes to the manuscript are listed as follows:
- New Title: The role of informal waste management in urban metabolism: A review of eight Latin American countries
- The abstract was rewritten and replaced with a new one.
- A reference to Table 1 was added.
- A reference to Table 2 was added
- Table 3. A section on marketing has been added.
- Figure 1. The production chain of recoverable materials from municipal solid waste was added. Own elaboration.
- Figure 2. Type of Organization of waste pickers in the World registered in the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers (Own elaboration).
- Figure 3. Organizations of waste pickers in the Americas. Registration of members of the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers is voluntary (Own elaboration).
- Tables S1, S2, and S3 were added to the supplementary section.
- The images were renumbered, and in the supplementary material, 17 photographs were incorporated.
- Nine additional references were added.
- Many small details were corrected.
We are grateful for the careful review and valuable suggestions of the reviewers.
Reviewer 4 Report
I think that the paper is worth for publication in this renewed form.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 4.
We are grateful for the careful review and valuable suggestions of the reviewers.
Round 3
Reviewer 2 Report
Kindly find my comments in the Track Changes of the attached document.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Reviewer 2
Thank you so much for your kind suggestions. The methodology was improved as you requested.
- The method SRL was included
- A new scheme was introduced to clarify the methodology, including some concepts of PRISMA
- Nine new references are now included
Other corrections are listed as follows:
- Your suggestion to change the title was considered. Thanks for your comment.
The previous title was:
The informal sector: relevant link in urban metabolism
The current title is now:
The role of informal waste management in urban metabolism: A review of eight Latin American countries
- The abstract was revised and replaced.
- Figure 1 was made to help people understand how recoverable materials are taken from the bulk street collection.
- The concept of urban metabolism was explained as requested.
The total changes to the manuscript are listed as follows:
- New Title: The role of informal waste management in urban metabolism: A review of eight Latin American countries
- The abstract was rewritten and replaced with a new one.
- A reference to Table 1 was added.
- A reference to Table 2 was added
- Table 3. A section on marketing has been added.
- Figure 1. The production chain of recoverable materials from municipal solid waste was added. Own elaboration.
- Figure 2. Type of Organization of waste pickers in the World registered in the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers (Own elaboration).
- Figure 3. Organizations of waste pickers in the Americas. Registration of members of the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers is voluntary (Own elaboration).
- Tables S1, S2, and S3 were added to the supplementary section.
- The images were renumbered, and in the supplementary material, 17 photographs were incorporated.
- Nine additional references were added.
- Many small details were corrected.
We are grateful for the careful review and valuable suggestions of the reviewers.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
