Interdisciplinaridade e a cadeia produtiva da reciclagem: uma análise a partir de uma associação de catadoras e catadores de materiais recicláveis

Abstract

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.