THE PERSPECTIVE OF WASTE PICKERS ON THEIR WORK: INCENTIVES AND CHALLENGES IN A CITY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

Abstract

Objective: The present research aimed to identify, from the perspective of the collectors of recyclable materials, the challenges and incentives of performing their work in a city of a developing country. Introduction: Waste generation is expected to grow significantly by 2050 in developing countries, making them the largest generators of MSW in the world. The Circular Economy is reflected as an alternative for dealing with the waste issue, since it seeks to promote the reduction of waste generation. For developing countries, the collectors of recyclable materials are important players in reinserting the materials into the production cycle. Brazil is an important player in this scenario, since it ranks among the five largest SUW generators in the world and has waste pickers as the majority responsible for waste recycling in the country. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 67 of the 125 organized waste pickers recognized by the city government, whose answers were categorized and analyzed qualitatively with quantitative contribution coming from the correlation in three stages: incentives, challenges, and incentives and challenges. Results and Conclusion: The study concluded that, for the Brazilian city collectors, the main stimulus for carrying out their professional activities is income generation, followed by collaboration to cause a positive impact on the environment. And, as the main challenge, the non-separation followed by the inadequate disposal of waste, which compromises the quality of the materials and the collectors' health.