The implementation of waste selective collection (SC) schemes in low-income countries is a challenge although it is one important way for improving environmental sustainability. The inclusion of the population is necessary for gaining effective results, and social surveys are support methods for understanding citizens’ involvement and behaviour. The aim of the research is to assess the support of the citizens concerning the formal and informal recycling in a low–middle income country. The study presents a questionnaire survey conducted in 2018 in La Paz, Bolivia, where 774 citizens were interviewed for evaluating their support to the formal and informal SC systems. Two questionnaires were submitted to two different users’ categories: users of the formal recyclable waste gathering points; and citizens of the neighbourhoods. Evidence of the survey shows that about 8% of the population supports the formal SC while about 48% are used to selecting their waste at home. About 79.2% of them bring the waste to the informal recycling shops or provide it to waste pickers, throwing the waste into or nearby the mixed containers in order to facilitate their collection. This research demonstrates how social inclusion is important for planning recycling systems within a developing big city, starting from the SC. Results suggest that the informal sector can be an effective means for improving the recycling behaviour of the citizens. The study can be of interest to stakeholders involved in introducing recycling policies in developing cities where the SC rate is still low, and informal waste collection exists.

在低收入国家实施废物选择性收集计划是一项挑战，尽管这是提高环境可持续性的重要途径。为了获得有效的结果，必须包括人口。社会调查是理解公民参与和行为的支持方法。该研究的目的是评估公民对中低收入国家的正规和非正规回收利用的支持。这项研究提出了一项问卷调查，该调查于2018年在玻利维亚拉巴斯进行，接受了774名公民的访问，以评估他们对正式和非正式SC系统的支持。已向两个不同的用户类别提交了两个调查表：正式的可回收废物收集点的用户；和社区居民。调查的证据表明，约有8％的人口支持正式的SC，而约有48％的人用于在家中选择废物。其中约有79.2％将废物带到非正式的回收商店或提供给拾荒者，将废物扔进混合容器中或附近，以便于收集。这项研究表明，从可持续发展委员会开始，社会包容对于在发展中的大城市中规划回收系统的重要性。结果表明，非正规部门可以成为改善公民回收行为的有效手段。利益相关者可能会参与这项研究，这些利益相关者在SC率仍然较低且存在非正式废物收集的发展中城市中引入回收政策。