Abstract This article presents a case study of extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies adopted by the European Union (EU) and Brazil. It focuses on waste pickers—a group increasingly visible in EU countries such as Spain and Italy. While EU directives emphasise the polluter pays principle, little attention is given to the role of informal workers in urban waste management and EPR systems. In contrast, Brazil's 2010 National Solid Waste Policy serves as an important example by prioritising the role of waste pickers in urban waste management and reverse logistics. The Brazilian policy introduces the innovative protector receiver principle, which assigns economic and social value to recyclable materials and highlights the need to compensate waste pickers as environmental agents. In 2023, new legislation in Brazil further emphasised the integral role of waste pickers in EPR systems, recognising them as both beneficiaries and executors of these programmes. Despite facing bureaucratic challenges, their inclusion is essential, especially regarding negotiations surrounding the ownership of reverse logistics data that depend on their labour force. The study concludes that Brazil's progressive policy framework provides valuable insights for developing inclusive EPR models in the EU, where prioritising waste picker activities presents significant challenges but remains essential for a more inclusive circular economy.