Environmental Justice and Circular Economy: Analyzing Justice for Waste Pickers in Upcoming Circular Economy in Fortaleza, Brazil

Abstract

Sustainable development (SD) presents three pillars: environment, equality, and economy. Many scholars agree that circular economy (CE) currently displays a social gap, as most studies so far focus mostly on economic aspects and, occasionally, environmental too. Although some developed countries and especially the EU heavily promote it, there is little possibility of developing countries accepting CE unless it can fill what it is lacking. This study suggests the use of Schlosberg’s tripartite environmental justice (EJ) perspective to complete the concept of CE, bringing it closer to that of SD. Due to their significant contribution to both circularity and the environment, and, likewise, due to their poor social conditions, this paper focuses on the social group of WPs, mainly in Brazil. After conducting 19 semi-structured interviews, EJ was applied to the case of the Ecopoints in Fortaleza (northeastern Brazil) and each element—recognition, distribution, and participation—detected conflicts, such as underappreciation, continuously reduced access to recyclables, distrust, and miscommunication. If CE is successful in LMCs, it will heavily rely on WPs. The analysis suggests that it is necessary to recognize their contributions in order to value their work and consequently, promote their social inclusion.

Circular economy: A new research field?

“…Even with this increased focus of CE literature on sustainability, we maintain that environmental and economic sustainability is the primary topic, with less attention on social sustainability (Amorim de Oliveira, 2021; Kirchherr, 2021a; Mies & Gold, 2021; Repp et al., 2021). In this way, the literature demonstrates a preference for “partial sustainability.” Regarding environmental and economic sustainability, the mainstream view appears to remain that a de‐coupling of environmental degradation and economic growth is possible, but a smaller and more critical line of scholarship challenges this view (Corvellec et al., 2021; Hobson & Lynch, 2016; Kirchherr, 2021b; Lazarevic & Valve, 2017; Merli et al., 2018).…”

New Methods for Assessing Sustainability of Wood-Burning Energy Facilities: Combining Historical and Spatial Approaches

“…More recently, advocates of the circular economy have emphasized the importance of integrating social perspectives to align efforts with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and popular conceptions of sustainability [25]. To do this, recent research on the circular economy suggests that policymakers and scholars need to engage more fully with the challenges of environmental justice [26].…”

Strategies for Considering Environmental Justice in the Early-Stage Development of Circular Economy Technologies

“…2 The circular economy, in which resources are kept in circulation rather than permitted to become waste, could have significant EJ implications. 3 , 4 Globally, the waste sector offers low wages and poor working conditions, involves an estimated 15 million informal waste pickers, and releases, air, water, and solid emissions to predominantly disadvantaged communities. 5 , 6 As circular economy technologies aim to displace the traditional waste sector, a consideration of EJ can help ensure that new innovations redress rather than perpetuate existing harms.…”

“…EJ, as defined by the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), encompasses the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies . The circular economy, in which resources are kept in circulation rather than permitted to become waste, could have significant EJ implications. , Globally, the waste sector offers low wages and poor working conditions, involves an estimated 15 million informal waste pickers, and releases, air, water, and solid emissions to predominantly disadvantaged communities. , As circular economy technologies aim to displace the traditional waste sector, a consideration of EJ can help ensure that new innovations redress rather than perpetuate existing harms. When EJ is ignored, technologies could jeopardize the wellbeing and sustainability of communities, cause damage that must be mitigated or repaired, face social acceptance barriers, and miss opportunities that only become apparent through the inclusion of diverse perspectives. , …”