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MEDINA, Martin. Serving the unserved: informal refuse collection in Mexico. in Waste Management Research, October 2005, vol. 23 n&#176; 5, p.390-397      The incomplete collection of municipal solid waste is a significant problem in the cities of many developing countries. Mexican cities collect less than 75% of the waste generated. The uncollected waste generates pollution and poses risks to human health and the environment. Low-income communities comprise most areas that lack refuse collection. In many of the areas where there is no official collection service, informal collectors provide this service for a fee.  This paper analyses informal refuse collection in three Mexican cities, and argues that it can supplement municipal collection, create jobs, benefit the economy and help clean up the urban environment.  