PROFILE SURVEY OF WASTE PICKERS IN BRAZIL: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COLLECTION VEHICLE AND OPTIMIZED ROUTING

Abstract

This study presents information collected from waste pickers in the southern, south-eastern and north-eastern regions of Brazil to guide the development of a collection vehicle and a support system for the definition of collecting routes. The study had three objectives: to specify the profile of waste pickers of recyclable materials in the three surveyed regions; to diagnose the working conditions of individuals linked to associations and cooperatives of waste pickers and to identify the physical and operational structure of the waste picker organizations. To reach these objectives questionnaires were issued to waste pickers linked to associations and cooperatives that collect recyclables using human- or animal-powered vehicles and to the waste picker organizations themselves. Based on the results of this study, we are able to provide the requirements for the development of the collection vehicle, to draw a profile of the waste pickers in the three study regions and have better understanding of the working and physical conditions and the organizational structure of waste picker entities. It can be concluded that waste pickers suffer several forms of deprivation, resulting in the marginalization, prejudice and exclusion of individuals who conduct this work, making it essential to promote actions that contribute to the social inclusion of waste pickers in their productive segment.