Evaluation of recyclable waste management of a waste pickers’ association in Belém, Brazil

Abstract

The growth in both population and its consumption have boosted the quantity of solid waste generated and consequently the problems of its proper management. Selective collection and recycling programmes promote the reduction of the amount of waste directed to landfills, reducing their environmental impacts and increasing their lifespan. Through selective collection, the recyclable solid waste (RSW) can be directed to co-operatives of waste pickers who carry out sorting and, sometimes, can beneficiate these materials, generating employment and income for the waste pickers, promoting their social inclusion and better working conditions. This research identifies and quantifies the different materials from RSW collected and marketed by a waste pickers’ association in the municipality of Belém. Furthermore, it performs an economic evaluation of the activity, through monitoring and data collection from all steps of the recyclable waste management process (collection, transportation and marketing/disposal) by the waste pickers of the association from mid-/late October to mid-December 2016, comparing with the data obtained for 1 year by members notes and the association incomes. The results show that paper, paperboard and plastic are the main materials collected and marketed by the association and those that create higher income.