Resumo:
This interdisciplinary study addresses the theme of the organization of the recycling production
chain from the perspective of the activities of the waste pickers organized in an association and
how the relationships with other actors involved influence the current working conditions of
the group. In this context, the objective of the present study is to analyze the recycling
production chain from a sociotechnical approach and seek to identify proposals for
improvements in its organizational process. Therefore, this qualitative study was carried out
through participant research, the data being analyzed through an adaptation of the content
analysis technique, in which categories were created to carry out thematic analysis of the data.
As a result, it can be inferred that the precarious conditions in the association's work involve
elements of productive / financial instability, carrying out work susceptible to risks with fragile
protection, absence of social security and financial limitation on the part of the public entity.
The elements that can improve the work and life conditions of waste pickers are related to the
reorganization of waste management, adaptation of infrastructure and production equipment,
community awareness processes, in addition to contracting the association to provide services.
It is concluded that the challenging working conditions are intrinsically linked to the
performance of the other agents of the production chain and extend throughout the work circuit
of the enterprise, in which the possible alternatives to overcome these obstacles demand the
improvement of the organization of the association, as well as the accountability and
involvement of the actors through the implementation of public policies that aim at the socioproductive inclusion of the category.
