Recyclable Material Collectors Research Articles

The perception of municipal managers on the management of urban solid waste

The solid waste management in Brazil is supported by the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) and, in the case of municipal waste, the responsibility lies for municipalities. The aim of this research was to describe the perception of the managers of the municipalities of the South Region of Rio Grande do Sul regarding solid waste management. Through the application of a questionnaire addressed to the managers of the cities, difficulties were identified: the lack of technical and financial resources for the implementation of the instruments proposed by the PNRS, such as the Municipal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans (PMGIRS) and selective collection of municipal solid waste. In addition, there were found problems as the lack of collaboration of the population for the functioning of collection systems and difficulties in the insertion of cooperatives and associations of collectors of recyclable materials within the management cycle. Despite the problems faced, managers recognize the importance of integrated solid waste management to improve management and planning of actions, to promote environmental quality and public health and as a method to reduce costs and raise funds.

The use of new technologies in safety and health protection of waste pickers.

Solid waste production grows annually, reaching 2.2 billion tons per year in 2025. While in some developed countries more than 60% of the waste is sent to landfills, in developing countries the destination is still observed from waste to landfills or open burning, while concern about recycling remains without consolidated government actions or other mitigating actions. In countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, recycling is carried out by recyclers or urban recyclers, informal workers who take up this activity due to unemployment and poverty in these regions. Due to the problems involved in the entire collection and recycling process, it is essential to use technologies that favor the professional practice of collectors of recyclable materials, combining popular knowledge with scientific technical knowledge, social organization and society participation, of better health and occupational conditions for this range of society. Thus, a systematic review is proposed to identify the use of technologies that contribute to the improvement of the health and safety conditions of solid waste handlers after their conventional disposal. So, following the preferential reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P), this systematic review protocol was developed with the objective of presenting suitable guidelines for the development of a research that can provide results to meet the goal sought. Five databases will be accessed (SCOPUS, PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCOhost and Web of Science) and a total of 9 keyword combinations will be used.

CULTURAS COTIDIANAS NA INTER-RELAÇÃO DA CIDADE COM A UNIVERSIDADE DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO - UERJ, À LUZ DO DOCUMENTÁRIO LIXO EXTRAORDINÁRIO

Neste artigo, as autoras discutem as culturas cotidianas, na inter-relação da cidade com a Universidade, do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – UERJ, em tempos de cibercultura e mobilidade ubíqua, percorrendo e cartografando saberes, fazeres e poderes, tecidos e compartilhados pelos praticantes culturais, nas redes educativas. Mediante a apresentação de atos de currículo, deixam em evidência o movimento #UerjResiste, de onde emergem formas narrativas em diferentes materialidades discursivas sobre a crise por que passa a Universidade. Esses discursos constituem o eco linguístico entre o poder e o saber, enquanto a fala, com seu caráter subjetivo, encarna e propaga uma prática de resistência à objetivação discursiva. Nesse contexto, procuram compreender as principais características dessas redes ao serem tecidas com outros tantos cotidianos em que vivem esses sujeitos, estabelecendo o diálogo com o filme “Lixo Extraordinário”, indicado ao Oscar como o melhor documentário brasileiro, que mostra o trabalho do artista plástico Vik Muniz, junto a catadores de materiais recicláveis, no lixão de Jardim Gramacho, no Rio de Janeiro.

Evaluation of solid waste management sustainability of a coastal municipality from northeastern Brazil

Municipal solid waste has increased in volume all over the world. In developing countries in particular this may cause severe impacts to the environment and public health. In Brazil, many municipalities present difficulties to sustainably manage their solid waste. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate waste management quality in a coastal municipality in Brazil, Mata de São João, and test the applicability of a system of indicators to reach this goal. A sustainability indicator matrix for municipal solid waste management was used, which was based on the five sustainability dimensions defined by the Brazilian National Policy on Solid Waste (NPSW) (political, economic, environmental, cultural, and social). Results indicated that Mata de São João presents low municipal solid waste management sustainability due to: (i) lack of an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Plan; (ii) absence of selective waste collection; (iii) economic insufficiency of public cleaning service; (iv) environmental education restricted to tourist areas; (v) absence of means for social control over public policies related to solid waste; and (vi) lack of a social inclusion program for the municipality's recyclable material collectors. Comparisons with reports of Brazilian federal agencies and research institutes indicated that the problems faced by Mata de São João regarding its adequacy to the NPSW are similar to those of other small municipalities in Brazil. The methodology used in the present study can be easily conducted by municipal technicians and managers who have access to information concerning this issue and can also be used in other Brazilian municipalities.

A INCUBADORA TECNOLÓGICA DE COOPERATIVAS POPULARES DA UNIVERSIDADE DO PLANALTO CATARINENSE E A INCUBAÇÃO DA COOPERATIVA DE TRABALHO DOS CATADORES DE MATERIAIS RECICLÁVEIS DO MUNICÍPIO DE LAGES, SC

The objective of this text is to reflect on the Technological Incubator of Popular Cooperatives of the University of Planalto Catarinense (ITCP UNIPLAC) and the incubation process of the Cooperative of Collectors of Recyclable Materials of the Municipality of Lages, SC, (COOPERLAGES). We describe the emergency context of the social movement of the solidarity economy, the institutionalization of the incubator emphasizing its proximity to the collectors’ universe through incubation actions of the cooperative and facing the challenges of internal management and selective collection. In this pedagogical process, we highlight the training of collectors, organization, constitution of the cooperative and signature of the first contract of service for the selective collection of recyclable materials between the cooperative and the City Hall of Lages for the period from March 2015 to March 2016. The reflection focuses on the role of the Incubator in the process of incubation of the cooperative guided by principles and values of solidarity economy, namely, self-management, collective ownership of the means of production, cooperation, solidarity, democracy, responsibility with the social environment, environmental awareness and the integration of solidary consumption with sustainability. The research is characterized by a qualitative, bibliographic, descriptive and explanatory approach. This is a case study because it reflects on a part of a greater totality of similar characteristics. The theoretical background addresses the themes of solidarity economy, university incubator and public policy of solid waste. The study shows that COOPERLAGES constitutes an organization that is relevant to its members, as they go from inhuman conditions to more humane conditions of life; That the municipality of Lages exercises first steps towards the national solid waste policy, as provided for in the Law 12,305 / 10; As shown by the incubation actions, in the internal management of the cooperative and the selective collection, the greatest obstacles to be overcome with the participation of all the actors involved are: the municipal government, the community, the cooperative and the UNIPLAC ITCP so that the public policy of solid waste is made effective and is consolidated in the municipality of Lages; Finally, that the university has the opportunity to strengthen teaching, research and socially relevant extension.

How to improve recycling rate in developing big cities: An integrated approach for assessing municipal solid waste collection and treatment scenarios

This paper investigates municipal solid waste management future scenarios of La Paz, developing big city of Bolivia, for improving the selective collection of recyclable materials. The objective of the paper is to suggest a multidimensional approach, both quantitative and qualitative, for planning sustainable waste management systems in areas with no data availability. The research assessed six different long-term management plans, considering all recycling settings feasible for La Paz. For that purpose, a multi-criteria decision analysis has been introduced, supported by environmental and financial impact assessment concerning transportation, final disposal, and material recovery. Results suggest that the inclusion of the informal sector could be the most feasible option from an economic and technological point of view. Moreover, the curbside collection of organic waste could be considered the best solution for reducing the global warming potential and for improving the useful life of the sanitary landfill. The approach introduced, as well as the combination of solutions evaluated, could be of interest for stakeholders of Latin America for reducing environmental impacts and introducing a new business. Though the multi-criteria decision analysis and the impact-assessment do not provide a dynamic view of future scenarios, their combination could offer a first integrated insight into the possible challenges and opportunities for developing a new municipal solid waste management system in developing cities, encouraging the circular economy and sustainable development.

Valoración económica de una mejora en las condiciones laborales de los recolectores informales de material reciclable en Guaymallén, Argentina

Bajo la modalidad de estudio de caso, se infiere el valor económico para una mejora en las condiciones laborales de los recolectores informales de material reciclable en Guaymallén, Argentina. Mediante el método de los experimentos de elección discreta, se estimó la disposición a pagar de un conjunto de ciudadanos para la implementación de políticas que podrían mitigar simultáneamente los problemas de salud y lesiones causadas por el tránsito que impactan la calidad de vida de los recolectores informales. Este análisis puede resultar de especial interés para la formulación de políticas públicas que pretenden generar una gestión eficiente de los residuos sólidos urbanos.

Projeto piloto de ponto de entrega voluntária de material reciclável em bairro do município de Poços de Caldas-MG

Este trabalho objetiva contribuir para o desenvolvimento de melhorias na logística adotada para coleta seletiva de material reciclável, bem como no desenvolvimento de trabalho de educação ambiental. Para isso, propõe-se um projeto piloto de coleta seletiva utilizando-se Ponto de Entrega Voluntário (PEV) em substituição à logística de coleta porta-a-porta, conjuntamente a uma campanha intensiva de educação para o uso do PEV. Em sua primeira fase, realizada em duas ruas do bairro Campos Elíseos de Poços de Caldas-MG, a viabilidade da implantação do PEV foi comprovada a partir dos dados obtidos fazendo-se uma análise antes e após a implantação do PEV. Destaca-se como resultados a redução em 70% do tempo de coleta, queda de 40,4% na distância percorrida pelos catadores, bem como a economia de diesel.

Assessing the social performance of municipal solid waste management systems in developing countries: Proposal of indicators and a case study

This article analyses the social performance of municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems in developing countries. For this purpose, a set of social impact categories, indicators and metrics capable of assessing the socio-economic and labour conditions of the different stakeholders involved in the life cycle of a MSW management system is proposed. Specifically, 12 social impact categories and 22 indicators with their corresponding metrics have been suggested. The application of the proposed indicators is illustrated by a case study in the districts of João Pessoa (Brazil), where selective MSW collection has been implemented with the collaboration of previous informal waste pickers, who have been reorganised into associations or cooperatives of collectors of recyclable materials (formal sector). The results suggest that despite the improvements made in the last decade in the current MSW management system of João Pessoa, there is still plenty of room for improvement. The social impact category with better performance is related to a “value chain actors relationship”, while “equal opportunities/discrimination” and “working benefits” show a high improvement potential.

Cenas de uma aula de matemática: território e relações de gênero na EJA

Resumo Neste artigo, propõe-se a incorporação de duas categorias de análise – gênero e território – à reflexão sobre práticas matemáticas protagonizadas por estudantes da Educação de Pessoas Jovens e Adultas (EJA). O referencial teórico estabelece um diálogo entre os campos da Educação Matemática, da Geografia e dos Estudos de Gênero para analisar o material empírico produzido por meio de observações das aulas de matemática e de entrevistas com catadoras e catadores de materiais recicláveis, com idade entre 18 e 69 anos, que participavam de um projeto de EJA numa Associação. O texto expõe as tensões entre o desejo de uniformidade das práticas matemáticas do território escolar e a heterogeneidade dessas práticas nos territórios da casa e do trabalho. Abdicar da compreensão das marcas simbólicas, econômicas e políticas desses territórios determina o silenciamento de práticas matemáticas outras no contexto escolar, aumentando a desigualdade das relações de gênero.

The living university in relation to popular classes in Brazil. A critical analysis of higher education policies

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the relationship between university and popular classes as an alternative to the privatist tendencies of higher education policies, as well as science and technology, in Brazil, in this period of transition from the neo-developmental project to the deepening of counter-reforms, which started in the 1990s. The subject is developed from bibliographical and documental research (Brazilian legislations), besides testimonies from Brazilian researchers who have worked together with family farmers, smallholders, settlers, and recyclable material collectors that are organised in cooperatives and associations. Our analyses are structured in dialogue with the hypothesis of dysfunctionality of the university. A review of higher education and science and technology policies is carried out and considered in regard to inclusion and the relationship with the popular classes. Our focus is on the first decade of the twenty-first century, a brief period of neo-developmentalism that ended with the deepening of the current counter-reforms. Initially, it is analyzed the higher education. Then, it is discussed the trends in Science and Technology policy. This is followed by analyzes of the relationship between university and popular classes, an alternative that is carried out contradictorily. It is concluded that the University recreates itself by contributing to popular classes.

GLOBALIZAÇÃO, INVISIBILIDADE SOCIAL E RECONHECIMENTO: UMA ANÁLISE DA (SO)NEGAÇÃO DE DIREITOS DOS CATADORES DE MATERIAIS RECICLÁVEIS

O presente estudo pretende abordar um fenômeno gerado pelas consequências nefastas da globalização que é justamente a formação de um mercado e de profissões informais. Pretende-se, portanto, mostrar as implicações que essa transformação econômica acarreta no aspecto social do país, como o exemplo do aumento do índice de desempregos e a perda de espaço das empresas cuja produção é voltada exclusivamente para o âmbito local. Dessa forma, a partir da análise de um grupo social específico – os catadores de materiais recicláveis – o qual surgiu em um cenário de busca por alternativas ao desemprego, serão apresentados os principais obstáculos enfrentados por indivíduos vítimas do fenômeno da invisibilidade social ao adequado reconhecimento e, para tanto, será utilizada a teoria do reconhecimento em Axel Honneth (2007). Objetiva-se a análise, em face do processo de globalização, do que impede que um grupo social vítima do fenômeno da invisibilidade pública obtenha um reconhecimento pleno perante o Estado e a sociedade da qual faz parte.

Optimization of Vehicle Routing in Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery Service: A Case study

In this case study, considered the vehicle routing problem with pickup and delivery which is a generalization of the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). The vehicle routing problem with pickup and delivery (VRPPD) arises whenever pickup demand and delivery demand is to be satisfied by the same vehicle. The problem is encountered in many real life situations. In this paper problem arises from the distribution of beverages and collection of recyclable containers. It can be modeled as a variant of the vehicle routing problem with a heterogeneous vehicle fleet, capacity and volume constraints, and an objective function combining routing distance or minimizing the total travel distance to serve customers located to different locations. Three construction heuristics and an improvement procedure are developed for the problem and designing a set of routes with minimum cost to serve a delivery of beverages and a collection of recyclable material with a fleet of vehicles. The aim of this paper is to develop a vehicle routing Problem (VRP) model that addresses simultaneous pickup and delivery in the beverage distribution. To this effect, a mathematical model is adopted and fitted with real data collected from MOHA Soft drinks Summit Plant located in Ethiopia, and solved using Clark-Wright saving algorithm. The form-to-distance is computed from the data collected from Google Earth and the customer’s data from the MOHA. The findings of the study show that the model is feasible and showed an improvement as compared to the current performances of the plant with respect to product distribution and collection and the total distance covered is minimized about 27.79%. The average performances of the model show that on average 5 routes are required to serve customers’ demands.

Evaluating the performance of recycling cooperatives in their operational activities in the recycling chain

In developing countries, recyclable material collectors cooperatives are presented as a public policy model for managing urban solid wastes with recyclable potential (MSWRP). They are a fundamental part of the resources recovery chain. Thus, this study proposes a method to help analyse the management performance of cooperatives in their operational activities in the recycling chain (OARC): in waste collection management, in production management, in waste marketing management, and as an instrument of social inclusion, income generation and MSWRP reduction. To exemplify the application of the method, longitudinal research was carried out on some characteristics of cooperatives based in a medium-sized city in Brazil. For data treatment, the DEA-SBM models, Tobit regression and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used. The results indicated that cooperatives are heterogeneous, with different levels of management performance and administrative organisation. This presents communication difficulties and creates disparities in the rent paid by the collection centres for the collection trucks. In some cases, cooperatives are organised with separate administrative sectors, while in others all administrative functions are performed by the president. The results also indicated the need for maintenance and an increase in public actions to integrate the cooperatives and waste collectors with the aim to guarantee greater control in the collection, production and commercialisation of MSWRP. This is important as improvements in cooperatives’ management performances in their OARC are fundamental to their survival and the improvement of their members’ quality of life.

Municipal solid waste in Brazil: A review.

The production of municipal solid waste (MSW) represents one of the greatest challenges currently faced by waste managers all around the world. In Brazil, the situation with regard to solid waste management is still deficient in many aspects. In 2015, only 58.7% of the MSW collected in Brazilian cities received appropriate final disposal. It was only as late as 2010 that Brazil established the National Policy on Solid Waste (NPSW) based on the legislation and programmes established in the 1970s in more developed countries. However, the situation with regard to MSW management has changed little since the implementation of the NPSW. Recent data show that, in Brazil, disposal in sanitary landfills is practically the only management approach to MSW. Contrary to expectations, despite the economic recession in 2015 the total annual amount of MSW generated nationwide increased by 1.7%, while in the same period the Brazilian population grew by 0.8% and economic activity decreased by 3.8%. The article describes the panorama with regard to MSW in Brazil from generation to final disposal and discusses the issues related to the delay in implementing the NPSW. The collection of recyclable material, the recycling process, the application of reverse logistics and the determination of the gravimetric composition of MSW in Brazil are also addressed in this article. Finally, a brief comparison is made between MSW management in Brazil and in other countries, the barriers to developing effective waste disposal systems are discussed and some recommendations for future MSW management development in Brazil are given.

Municipal solid-waste recycling market and the European 2020 Horizon Strategy: A regional efficiency analysis in Spain

This paper focuses on the analysis of the efficiency of Spanish regions in the development of the recycling market in their respective territories through the use of a novel Data Envelopment Analysis method with multiple outputs. The efficiency analysis takes into account the mandatory goals of reducing mixed-collected municipal solid waste and the augmentation of selective collection of recyclable materials, as set by the European Union and the Spanish legal framework. This issue is highly relevant, since neither of these two management goals may be achieved without the recycling market and its associated industry having been previously developed to a sufficient level. Results confirm that Catalonia, Navarre and Madrid function as benchmark regions to be emulated by the remaining inefficient regions. The necessary regional investments and output projections to reach an efficient development of the recycling sector are also estimated. Additionally, it is found that per capita income and population density significantly explain differences in regional efficiencies. Finally, taking efficient regions as benchmarks to learn from, some policy recommendations are offered.

Environmental impact of municipal solid waste management using Life Cycle Assessment: The effect of anaerobic digestion, materials recovery and secondary fuels production

Material and energy recovery from waste is significantly growing its importance in the last decades aiming to reduce the primary resources exploitation and the excessive recourse to incineration and landfilling. Several processes, technologies and methods can be chosen to design a proper waste management system (WMS) so that an objective comparison between alternatives has to be made. To this end, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be used to compare possible alternative scenarios and create an evaluation grid where different environmental parameters are reported. The aim of this work was to compare the environmental impacts of four different scenarios already analysed for technological and economic aspects in a previous work. The scenario taken as base case referred to a real waste management system applied in Caserta Province, an area of 924,614 inhabitants in the Campania region of Southern Italy. The base scenario considers the household separation of waste in five fractions addressed to material recovery (polyethylene, polyethylen-terephtalate, polypropylene, metals, cellulosic fibers, …), composting (biowaste) and incineration (residual waste). The results of the LCA demonstrated that the best scenario is that one including the highest separate collection rate technically and economically feasible to be carried out i.e. 60%, the recourse to anaerobic digestion and biogas production to treat the biowaste separately collected and the maximization of the re-processing of recyclable materials such as PET, HDPE, glass, metals, … In particular, the Global Warming Potential decrease of 166% and the Eutrophication Potential decrease of 646%, when the alternative scenario, including the recalled features is compared to the base-case one. The most important result is that the raised separate collection of recyclable materials utilized as substitutes of raw materials and of biowaste utilized for production of renewable energy helps to mitigate the direct and indirect burdens connected to the overall life cycle of goods production.

Performance analysis of recycling cooperatives from Brazil: implications for Latin America

A principle from the national solid waste policy in Brazil is, among others, the integration of collectors of reusable and recyclable materials in actions involving shared responsibility for the life cycle of products. In this country, the effectiveness in the management of municipal solid waste is directly linked to socio-productive inclusion of collectors in collecting, sorting and marketing municipal solid waste with recyclable potential (PRMSW) through the formalisation of enterprises in recycling cooperatives. For this, 40 based cooperatives were analysed in seven states through data envelopment analysis and regression Tobit. All cooperatives which not achieved performance score one are short-changing the inputs and generating products inconsistent with the optimal operating capacity of the cooperative. The results of this article can be understood as a method to be used by authorities or public/private entities to verify the performance of recycling cooperatives in their operating activities in the recycling chain.

Comparative Assessment of the Environmental Implication of Management Options for Municipal Solid Waste in Nigeria

The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) sector contributes to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission. GHG emissions from current MSW treatment options and alternative options were examined for Nigeria using the Solid Waste Management Greenhouse Gas (SWM GHG) model. Alternative scenarios considered a combination of options including collection of recyclable materials, dumping in unmanaged disposal sites, landfill without and without biogas collection, and incineration for electricity production. The results showed that the contribution of the current management strategies to global warming is 10.7 Mt CO2 eq/yr. MSW management options featuring primary material recycling and energy recovery had reductions in GHG emissions of between 22-67% compared to the current scenario - highlighting the important contribution of recycling and energy production from MSW treatment options in reducing GHG contribution of the MSW sector.

O IFSC e a Associação de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis: apontamentos sobre suas proximidades

The extension project “IFSC and ACOMAR: a sustainable exchange on labor knowledge, focused on the exchange of knowledge between the IFSC, the Association of recyclable material collectors of Sao Miguel do Oeste (ACOMAR) and the community general. The shares were held by the IFSC the scholarship students in the ACOMAR environment, and the ACOMAR workers on campus IFSC, providing opportunities for the exchange of the most different understandings about the environment and working relations entered in the context of the struggle for survival.