Governance tools: Improving the circular economy through the promotion of the economic sustainability of waste picker organizations

Siman, Renato Ribeiro; Yamane, Luciana Harue; Baldam, Roquemar de Lima; Tackla, Juliana Pardinho; Lessa, Sarina Francisca de Assis; Britto, Priscila Mendonça de

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2020.01.040

Cited by 56 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), cooperatives that are formally established as legal entities are considered part of the formal sector (ILO, 2013) and as formal waste collection, the work of waste picker cooperatives is a critical service for the city. In many parts of the world waste pickers have achieved high levels of organization through worker owned cooperatives (Bhaskar & Chikarmane, 2012;Dutra et al, 2018;Rutowski & Rutowski, 2015;Siman et al, 2020). Most waste picker leaders are aware of the multiple services they provide and the responsibilities they have.…”

Section: Building Better Communities (Sdg 11)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the SDGs are a contested political agenda, too often dominated by technocratic, top down decision making and missing out on community-produced knowledge and the inclusion of the most-marginalized actors. (Weber, 2017), Waste pickers reclaim resources (Siman, et al 2020;Murakami, Sulzbach, Pereira, Borchardt, & Sellitto, 2015), diverting them into the circular economy (Gutberlet, Carenzo, Kain, and de Azevedo, 2017a). They co-produce city services, particularly in low-income residential areas where no formal waste collection would otherwise happen (Fahmi & Sutton, 2010;Mitlin, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data analysis involved theme coding and content analysis (Schreier, 2012) focusing on the ways in which waste picker cooperatives contribute to the SDGs and the everyday hurdles they are facing. The literature defends the argument that waste picker organizations can create and preserve employment, facilitate the entry of women into the work force and integrate disadvantaged workers (Besen, Ribeiro, Gunther, & Jacobi, 2014;Dias, 2002;Dutra, Yamane, & Siman, 2018;Gerometta, Haussermann, & Longo, 2005;Siman et al, 2020). The Brazilian SSE experience, supported by relevant public policies, provides an example of global relevance for transitioning from informal to formal employment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Grassroots waste picker organizations addressing the UN sustainable development goals

Gutberlet

2021

World Development

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Worldwide waste pickers work under deplorable conditions and are not recognized for their environmental and community services, by recovering and diverting recyclable materials from waste. Brazil has accumulated experiences of international relevance, particularly between 2004 and 2015, due to institutional and policy support for the Social and Solidarity Economy and the creation of a National Waste Pickers' movement. These conditions have favored the formation of new recycling cooperatives throughout the country. While there is still a wide spectrum of differences among these membershipbased organizations, they also have many characteristics in common and share similar values and objectives. This research aims to demonstrate that when organized and supported by public policies and inclusive governance these groups are able to tackle several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article presents results of a case study, conducted over the period of 5 months in 2018, involving 21 waste picker cooperatives in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Data collection included the application of a questionnaire to the leaders of the 21 cooperatives and site visits to their facilities, including informal conversations with members. Data was collected at the cooperatives and involved note taking and voice recording. The data was transcribed and tabled for the subsequent content analysis. The results demonstrate the impacts of the work of organized waste pickers on SDGs (goals # 1, 5, 8, 11 and 12). The study shows how these groups address social, economic and environmental targets, how they build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities. Many cooperatives still operate under precarious conditions, suffering from weak government commitments and neglect or from the volatility of the economy. Public policies and participation in governance are instrumental in acknowledging waste picker organizations and remunerating their services to thus unlock their full potential to further the progress on the implementation of SDGs. Political will is paramount for waste pickers to become the champions in the transition to more sustainable development.

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Section: Building Better Communities (Sdg 11)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Grassroots waste picker organizations addressing the UN sustainable development goals

Gutberlet

2021

World Development

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“…It is important to highlight that the formalization of the catadores in collective organizations was essential in this context, because the cooperatives became legally responsible for the management of MSWRP (with the imposition of fines in case of non-compliance with legal and contractual obligations), fact that encouraged the professionalization of the catadores. Strategies for the inclusion of collective organizations of catadores in waste management in a CE can be achieved by promoting the economic sustainability of these organizations through improved governance tools [63].…”

Section: Summary Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Integration of Recycling Cooperatives in the Formal Management of Municipal Solid Waste as a Strategy for the Circular Economy—The Case of Londrina, Brazil

Miranda

Fidelis

Fidelis³

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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In many developing countries, the informal recycling sector is responsible for reducing the amount of waste in landfills and supplying the needs of recycling industries. In the context of municipal solid waste (MSW) management, considering that developing countries aim to implement circular economy (CE) actions, it is essential to ensure the inclusion of waste pickers (catadores) in an adapted CE structure. This study analyzes the integration of recycling cooperatives in the formal management of municipal solid waste with recyclable potential (MSWRP) of a medium-sized municipality in Brazil, with the objective of ascertaining the contributions of cooperatives in an adapted CE structure and, at the same time, identifying a cooperative that can be used as a benchmarking option for other cooperatives, especially in relation to their organizational and operational practices. The results indicate that from this integration, cooperatives have legal responsibility in the management of MSWRP, resulting in the professionalization of its members and increasing their productivity. The results also revealed that the implementation of the CE in developing countries is, in a sense, conditioned to the performance of the informal sector in the recycling chain and, in addition, that the inclusion of cooperatives in the formal sector of MSWRP management can improve the rates of a municipality.

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“…Attributing a value to the environmental services of reclaiming materials for the circular economy and remunerating waste pickers for these services would be a fair policy. 10 Greater gender equality (SDG 5) could also be supported through strengthening member-based organizations, where women have an equal opportunity to work, are able to thrive and become leaders, and can develop their skills. The collective work environment and capacity building opportunities that are often created in member-based organizations allow these women to ''escape'' from subordinated conditions; grow awareness; discuss everyday problems; engage critically in broader human rights, domestic violence, or social justice issues; and participate in political decisions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming Cities Globally: Essential Public and Environmental Health Services Provided by Informal Sector Workers

Gutberlet

2020

One Earth

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Governance tools: Improving the circular economy through the promotion of the economic sustainability of waste picker organizations

Cited by 56 publications

References 31 publications

Grassroots waste picker organizations addressing the UN sustainable development goals

Grassroots waste picker organizations addressing the UN sustainable development goals

The Integration of Recycling Cooperatives in the Formal Management of Municipal Solid Waste as a Strategy for the Circular Economy—The Case of Londrina, Brazil

Transforming Cities Globally: Essential Public and Environmental Health Services Provided by Informal Sector Workers

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