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Waste Pickers: Unsung Heroes of Circular Economy
14 Jun
Summary
- Waste pickers are crucial for waste management goals.
- An estimated 800,000 waste pickers work in Brazil.
- Collectors demand recognition and inclusion in policy.
Waste pickers are indispensable to effective waste management policies, whether ambitious or restrained. Despite official registrations of 16,100, Brazil's National Movement of Recyclable Material Collectors estimates the true number to be around 800,000. These individuals are critical for the success of circular economy initiatives.
Claudete Costa, a recyclable material collector, shared her perspective during Rio Nature and Climate Week. She highlighted that the country lacks proper education for waste disposal, leading to materials ending up in landfills instead of being channeled into job-creating cooperatives.
Costa stressed that waste pickers must be acknowledged as integral to the solution, possessing practical knowledge about material destinations. She advocated for an end to societal exclusion and the hypocritical labeling of collectors, demanding respectful recognition for their professional contributions.
She asserted that any environmental project, irrespective of scale, necessitates a comprehensive approach that actively includes the voices of waste pickers.
