Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards persistent organic pollutants among informal waste recyclers in Debre Markos, Ethiopia

Informal waste recycling is a primary pathway for exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in developing nations, yet safety practices in this sector remain under-researched. This study assessed safe practices toward POPs and identified associated factors among informal recyclers in Debre Markos Town, Northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 informal recyclers selected via a snowball sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured face-to-face interview questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude, and practice were measured using standardized items, with Bloom’s cut-off point used to define good knowledge and safe practice. Data were analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance was declared at p 5 years of work experience (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI 1.29–4.50) were identified as the independent predictors of safe practices toward POPs. Safe practices toward POPs among informal recyclers were low, with over half the population operating under high-risk conditions. The study highlights that specialized knowledge and formal education are the most critical drivers of safety compliance. Interventions should prioritize POP-specific occupational health training and the integration of the informal sector into formal waste management frameworks to mitigate long-term toxicological risks such as endocrine disruption and cancer.