Abstract
This work presents results of a questionnaire which aimed to assess the profile of collectors ofrecyclable materials of ACIMAR – Association of Recyclable Materials Collectors of Itajubá, which is locatedin Itajubá, southern of Minas Gerais state. It is part of the program ‘Creation of a network of collectors ofrecyclable materials in the south of Minas Gerais’, funded by the Ministry of Education and developed by thePopular Cooperatives Technological Incubator of the Federal University of Itajubá (INTECOOP/UNIFEI), alongwith the Mayorship of Itajubá and the University Center of Itajubá (FEPI). The methodology was based on a fieldcampaign based on a questionnaire, which was used to interview 31 associates of ACIMAR. Queries were basedon: personal data; previous jobs; formal education; familiar structure; the motivations to become a recyclablematerial picker; the society’s perception on their work; previous capacitations; working time; financial gains;positive and negative aspects of their work, group relationships and life perspectives. Results suggest that 87%declared to have worked on other jobs, while 58% declared that these jobs were formal. Despite the socialsecurity aspects, they decided to work as recyclable material pickers, because there were no bosses. Genderdistribution is quite homogeneous, with 52% male and 48% female, what indicates an equilibrium not seen inother laboral sectors in Brazil. Some 32% are between 18 and 30 years old, while 29% are between 41 and 50years old. Around 74% declared to have incomplete formal education up to the fundamental level. Individualmonthly income are above R$ 600,00 (around US$ 270,00) for 56%. To all of them, their role is very importantas it helps in the city waste management and improves environmental conditions, while 62% considered beingcalled as environmental agents rather than collectors of recyclable materials, what suggests a quest for a newprofessional identity.
Highlights
Collectors of recyclable materials are the worker which lives on waste, through selective collection schemes or on streets and ‘lixoes’, an yet common sites in Brazilian reality where trash is thrown away without any caution.According to the National Research on Basic Sanitation, carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics in year 2000, around 125,281 tons/day of household waste were collected in Brazil; with some 52.8% of Brazilian cities disposing their waste on lixoes [1]
There are 16.2% of illiterate among recyclable collectors in Minas Gerais, which is above average general population in Brazil of 9.4% - 21.9% above 25 years old with at least the fundamental education level and 9.4% of this age level holding a degree below university level
The main objective of this work is to assess the socioeconomic profile of the recyclable materials collectors of ACIMAR, as a requisite to the creation of a network of associations of collectors in southern Minas Gerais state
Summary
It is estimated that there are between 400,000 and 600,000 recyclabe material collectors in Brazil, while around 10% of this population is thought to be organized under associative or cooperative schemes [2] In another survey, 387,910 people declared to work on collecting recyclable and reusable materials as their main finantial activity and to have a fixed household; among them, around 116,417 live in the southeastern region of Brazil, while 36,671 are in Minas Gerais state, where 51.5% are between 30 and 49 years old, male (61%) of black or brown skin (69.7%) and average monthly income of R$ 569.78 (around US$ 259.00) [3]. This situation illustrates the need of urgent action on the population of recyclable material collectors, as they are even below average Brazilian formal education indicators, in order to allow opportunities of citizenship, income, well being, etc
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
