A study to understand and document the role of the informal sector in urban sanitation in Karnataka was carried out by Biome at the request of the National Institute of Urban Affairs. The study covered the towns of Vijayapura, Belagavi and Kundapura. The key research question that was explored was to see what could be an appropriate response by the municipality to the informal sector engaged in sanitation related work, so as to strengthen overall services, improve sanitation, reduce health and environmental risks, achieve resource recovery and reuse and strengthen informal sector livelihoods.