The management of urban waste and waste pickers: Can an occupational activity socially and culturally excluding generate social inclusion?

Abstract

This article presents a reflective study on the environmental problems of waste and the social inclusion of people who labor with recyclable materials. The following question arises: “What are the possibilities of a socially excluding occupational activity to generate social inclusion?” In order to answer the question about the integrative function of labor in society, this article approach the technological transformations in the world of labor and aspects of social exclusion, the relevance of contemporary environmental problems, waste issues in Brazil after the National Solid Waste Policy - Law 12.305/10, aspects of the social condition of the waste pickers and the culturally contours inherent to the Brazilian context. The research method is the bibliographical analysis, with qualitative approach. The objective is to conduct a reflexive and approximative dialogue on the theme of social inclusion of the taster with aspects related to culturalism, social recognition and citizenship.