A study of older people who collect recycling materials for financial returns

Abstract

Background. In Hong Kong, it is likely that daily, you will see older people who push a cargo cart carrying materials that they collected on the street. However, there is a lack of knowledge about who they are, why they do so, and how. This study aimed to explore the life experiences of a group of older people who collect recycling materials for financial return. Methods. A survey method was adopted, in which 82 older people who self-reported that they were motivated to collect recycling materials for financial return were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. Results. Most of the respondents were female, living with family members, and not economically active during the time of the survey. Approximately 38% of the respondents indicated that they wanted the money for a living and the remainder regarded it as a perquisite. The majority of the respondents collected recycling materials daily and had done so for 1 to 10 years. About one-third of them reported that they had experienced injury in the process. The resulting median monthly income they derived was reported as HK$350. More than 40% of the respondents said they had to compete with others during the collecting process. Conclusion. Older people who collect recycling materials for financial return were mainly motivated by two factors: to earn money for a living or as a perquisite. Collecting recycling materials was basically like a ‘job’ they undertook frequently, during which they also experienced injury and competition.