Consumers, Waste Consumers, Waste Pickers and Recycling Pickers and Recycling in Brazil… On the in Brazil… On the Cusp of Change?Cusp of Change?Kim Beecheno, Kim Beecheno,

Brazil Institute, King’s College LondonBrazil Institute, King’s College London

Kim.beecheno@kcl.ac.ukKim.beecheno@kcl.ac.uk

Purpose of the StudyPurpose of the Study To show how recycling is organised in Brazil To show how recycling is organised in Brazil To highlight that the situation in Brazil contrasts To highlight that the situation in Brazil contrasts

quite starkly with how recycling is organised in quite starkly with how recycling is organised in Sweden & England Sweden & England

Desk research: variety of sources, e.g. gov Desk research: variety of sources, e.g. gov websites & official docs, NGO websites & websites & official docs, NGO websites & publications, policy analysis from experts on publications, policy analysis from experts on waste, recycling and environmental issueswaste, recycling and environmental issues

Brazil’s Growing Waste Brazil’s Growing Waste ProblemProblem

Solid waste increased by 1.8% in Solid waste increased by 1.8% in 2011(double the population growth 2011(double the population growth of 0.9%) to approximately 62 of 0.9%) to approximately 62 million tonnes in 2011million tonnes in 2011

Household waste is the Household waste is the responsibility of the municipality responsibility of the municipality and collection covers 95% of the and collection covers 95% of the country (not including ‘favelas’ country (not including ‘favelas’ reducing coverage to around 89%)reducing coverage to around 89%)

Illegal dumping of household waste Illegal dumping of household waste and fly-tipping along roadsides and and fly-tipping along roadsides and riverbanks is common riverbanks is common

51% of waste goes to open-air 51% of waste goes to open-air dumps (currently 2,906 dumps in dumps (currently 2,906 dumps in total) total)

28% goes to engineered landfill28% goes to engineered landfill

21% goes to sanitary landfill21% goes to sanitary landfill

Basic Sanitations Basic Sanitations ProblemsProblems

33 municipalities across Brazil still 33 municipalities across Brazil still do not have running water do not have running water

There is no collective sewage There is no collective sewage network in 2,495 municipalities network in 2,495 municipalities throughout Brazil (out of 5,565)throughout Brazil (out of 5,565)

Most common solution is the use Most common solution is the use of septic tanksof septic tanks

3,995 of Brazil's municipalities, 3,995 of Brazil's municipalities, (72%) of all municipalities did not (72%) of all municipalities did not have a basic sanitation policy in have a basic sanitation policy in place towards the end of 2012, place towards the end of 2012, despite it being a legal obligation despite it being a legal obligation by 2010, after the creation of the by 2010, after the creation of the National Basic Sanitation Law in National Basic Sanitation Law in 2007 2007

RecyclingRecycling Consumer consciousness around recycling is low in Brazil. Consumer consciousness around recycling is low in Brazil.

BUT recycling is not new in Brazil: between 2003 and 2008, recycling rose from 5 million tons to 7.1 million BUT recycling is not new in Brazil: between 2003 and 2008, recycling rose from 5 million tons to 7.1 million tons, the equivalent of 13 % of urban waste (Ciclosoft, 2012) tons, the equivalent of 13 % of urban waste (Ciclosoft, 2012)

Brazil is world leader in the recycling of aluminium cans (98.3 %) and second only to Japan for the recycling of Brazil is world leader in the recycling of aluminium cans (98.3 %) and second only to Japan for the recycling of PET plastic (PNSB, 2008).PET plastic (PNSB, 2008).

Government statistics: Recycling Sector generates about US$5.5 billion per year but loses around US$3.6 Government statistics: Recycling Sector generates about US$5.5 billion per year but loses around US$3.6 billion annually by not recycling waste which is sent to controlled landfills or open-air dumps (BrasilGov, 2013).billion annually by not recycling waste which is sent to controlled landfills or open-air dumps (BrasilGov, 2013).

32% of municipalities have some form of segregated waste collection scheme, generally kerbside commingled 32% of municipalities have some form of segregated waste collection scheme, generally kerbside commingled

segregated collection or voluntary bring banks. Mainly in South segregated collection or voluntary bring banks. Mainly in South

Focus on recycling is built around the concept of economic gain for the country, rather than around the Focus on recycling is built around the concept of economic gain for the country, rather than around the environmental discourse which is secondaryenvironmental discourse which is secondary

89% of the industrial production circuit for reused raw material is separated and sorted by waste pickers, 11% 89% of the industrial production circuit for reused raw material is separated and sorted by waste pickers, 11% by industries by industries

Waste Pickers Waste Pickers

Social MovementsSocial Movements Creation of cooperatives across the country from 1990s, e.g. Creation of cooperatives across the country from 1990s, e.g.

COOPEMARE in São Paulo, ASMARE in Belo Horizonte – highly COOPEMARE in São Paulo, ASMARE in Belo Horizonte – highly organised network of cooperatives across the countryorganised network of cooperatives across the country

Work with some municipalities performing segregated waste collection, Work with some municipalities performing segregated waste collection, storing/warehousing and pressing of recyclables storing/warehousing and pressing of recyclables

National Movement for Collectors of Recyclables (National Movement for Collectors of Recyclables (MNCR) campaigns MNCR) campaigns for waste picker rights since 2001for waste picker rights since 2001

Waste Picker StatisticsWaste Picker Statistics Waste pickers now have semi-formal status – Waste pickers now have semi-formal status –

included in CBO classification of jobsincluded in CBO classification of jobs

Waste pickers categorised by collection activities: Waste pickers categorised by collection activities: e.g. scrap picker, scrap iron picker, paper/cardboard e.g. scrap picker, scrap iron picker, paper/cardboard picker, scrap packager and scrap sorter. picker, scrap packager and scrap sorter.

3 types of waste picker now identified in Brazil:3 types of waste picker now identified in Brazil:A) Unorganised or autonomous waste pickers A) Unorganised or autonomous waste pickers B) Organised waste pickersB) Organised waste pickersC) Contracted waste pickers C) Contracted waste pickers

Statistics Continued…Statistics Continued… Who are they?Who are they? 67% men, 33% women,10% children aged 10 to 16 (Wiego, 2011) 67% men, 33% women,10% children aged 10 to 16 (Wiego, 2011)

Low literacy ratesLow literacy rates 14% of men and 6% of women attended school 14% of men and 6% of women attended school

Gender differencesGender differences 4.5% (just under 12,000) have a formal contract, (80% men, 20 % 4.5% (just under 12,000) have a formal contract, (80% men, 20 %

women) women) 56% of waste pickers in cooperatives or associations are women, 56% of waste pickers in cooperatives or associations are women,

compared to 44% men compared to 44% men

EarningsEarnings Average salaries generally below one minimum wage US$190-235 Average salaries generally below one minimum wage US$190-235

(R$420-520) per month. (R$420-520) per month. Men earn more than women across all age groupsMen earn more than women across all age groups

Table 4: Price of Recyclable Materials across Brazilian States, August 2013(prices in tons and in Brazilian Real)

White Steel Colourles

s Coloured Rigid Plastic Long

Paper cans Glass Glass Plastic Film Life

Crato 120 200 200 2000 - - 700 700 800 150

Guarapari 240P 270C 180C 2500P/C - - 500P/C 1300P/C 500P/C 170P/C

Goiânia 200P/C 270C 210 2350C 500 - 850P/C 1300P/C 500P/C 190P/C

Lavras 400P 400P 230P 2400P 130 - 1300P 2050P 800P 200PPatos de

Minas 255P/C 250P/C 230C 2350C 903C - 400P/C 786P/C 550P/C -

Campo Largo 280P/C 420P/C 220 2500C - - 1000C 1350P/C 450P/C 200P/C

Cruzeiro d´Oeste 270P/C 100L - 2400C - - 700P/C 1300P/C 1000P/C 100P/C

Porto Alegre 320P/C 440P/C 160P/C 2600P/C 40C - 300C 1400P/C 100P/C 90P/C

Araçatuba 230P/C 280P/C 250C 2100P/C 40C - 900P/C 1450P/C - 150P/C

Guarujá 250P/C 250L 300C 2000C 150C - 850P/C 1700P/C 1000P/C 200P/C

Guarulhos 400P/C 530 420C 2600C 90C - 1000/C 1750P/C 1800 370P/CSão J osé

dos Campos 350P 170P - 2360P/C 150 - 1410P 1900P 480P 250P

P = pressed  -  C = clean  -  W = whole - S = shards -  UN = unitsSource: Cempre, 2013

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul

São Paulo

Ceará

Espírito Santo

Goiás

Minas Gerais

Cardboard

Aluminium PET

Problems andProblems andChallengesChallenges

Stigma of jobStigma of job

Personal ProblemsPersonal Problems

Social services of cooperatives VS economic Social services of cooperatives VS economic functionfunction

Poor management in cooperativesPoor management in cooperatives

Unfair remunerationUnfair remuneration

Policy – change on the Policy – change on the horizon?horizon?

New National Solid Waste Policy, New National Solid Waste Policy, Política Nacional de Resíduos Política Nacional de Resíduos SólidosSólidos, (‘PNRS’), 2010. National Solid Waste Plan currently being , (‘PNRS’), 2010. National Solid Waste Plan currently being implemented. implemented.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITYSHARED RESPONSIBILITY for the life-cycle of a product from for the life-cycle of a product from producers to consumers. producers to consumers.

REVERSE LOGISTICSREVERSE LOGISTICS, for the first time producers are responsible , for the first time producers are responsible for the return of their ‘waste’ products to the production chain.for the return of their ‘waste’ products to the production chain.

Closure of all open-air dumps by 2014 and creation of engineered Closure of all open-air dumps by 2014 and creation of engineered landfills landfills

Obligatory for municipalities to implement household source-Obligatory for municipalities to implement household source-segregation schemes that include waste picker cooperatives. segregation schemes that include waste picker cooperatives. Municipalities that do not, will not have access to federal funding Municipalities that do not, will not have access to federal funding for waste management. for waste management.

OverviewOverview ‘‘Consumption work’ is very different in Brazil compared to England and Consumption work’ is very different in Brazil compared to England and

SwedenSweden

Little environmental consciousness around recycling at the momentLittle environmental consciousness around recycling at the moment

Consumers currently play only a small role in the division of labour within Consumers currently play only a small role in the division of labour within waste disposal and recycling – could change waste disposal and recycling – could change

Brazil has high recycling rates for some materials but this is dependent on Brazil has high recycling rates for some materials but this is dependent on market forces and informal work of waste pickersmarket forces and informal work of waste pickers

Recycling work is mainly carried out by waste pickers who are part of the Recycling work is mainly carried out by waste pickers who are part of the informal economy and it is a survival strategy although greater formalisation informal economy and it is a survival strategy although greater formalisation and inclusion is occurringand inclusion is occurring

Implementation of new solid waste policy 2010 (PNRS) could bring Implementation of new solid waste policy 2010 (PNRS) could bring substantial change but this remains to be seensubstantial change but this remains to be seen

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!