Actividades del sector informal - obstáculos y ejemplos para su integración en la gestión municipal de residuos sólidos

Abstract

The informal sector within solid waste management shows many aspects and denominations. Pepenadores, catadores, cirujas, gancheros and buzos are only some of the names given to waste picker in Latin America. They found a productive niche in solid waste classification. They are part of the solid waste management system: Hundreds of thousands collect, classify and sell material and thereby generate an income. On the other hand, the informal sector returns considerable quantities of material to productive processes and support to preserve natural resources towards a cycle management. Nevertheless, often they work under dangerous conditions to health and the environment and against the formal solid waste management the local authorities realise. This paper describes the cases of the informal sector in Rosario, Argentine, Cairo in Egypt and current trends in Brazil.