[Recyclable material waste pickers: an analysis of working conditions and operational infrastructure in the south, southeast and northeast of Brazil]

Abstract

This work is a survey of information gathered from waste pickers in the south, southeast and northeast of Brazil in order to provide input for the development of a waste collection vehicle and a support system to define waste collection routes. Thus, the research sought to establish the profile of waste pickers, diagnose their working conditions and identify the physical and operational structure of the organizations to which they are linked. To achieve these objectives it was necessary to apply questionnaires to waste pickers from organizations who performed the collection of recyclable materials using human- and animal-drawn vehicles and the waste picking organizations themselves. These results were subsequently used for the development of the proposed technologies. It can be concluded that the profession of waste picker still suffers from numerous forms of deprivation, resulting in marginalization, prejudice and exclusion of individuals who make their livings from it. It is therefore indispensable to promote activities that contribute to the full productive inclusion of waste pickers.