SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COLLECTORS OF RECYCLABLE CAJAZEIRAS MATERIALS (ASCAMARC) AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF COLLECTING ACTIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Background: recycling is an essential tool for promoting sustainable development, as mechanisms that reduce the use of virgin raw materials will limit the use of scarce resources and reduce the progressive accumulation of waste. as well as contain their side effects and pollution causing health problems, among others. At the base of the recycling system are the collectors of recyclables, agents of this activity who are the workers who pick, select and sell recyclable materials such as paper, glass, metal, garbage, and other reusable materials. Aim: this study aimed to verify the income earned and the contribution to the sustainable development process arising from collecting recyclable materials. Methods: the proposed study was carried out at the Cajazeiras Waste Pickers Association (ASCAMARC), in this city, Alto Sertão da Paraíba. The population and sample are 13 recyclable waste pickers who actively participate in ASCAMARC and voluntarily agreed to participate in the research after being informed about its objectives. The content analysis technique was used through transcripts of interviews with the target audience and documents from secondary sources, and the collected data were also analyzed in quantitative form. Results and Discussion: the results show that 12 (92.31%) waste pickers earn less than one wage, and 01 (7.69%) waste pickers earn a minimum wage through the activity of collecting recyclable material and that there is currently great concern about the damage generated to the environment by solid wastes that have a long degradation time. It was found that 13 (100%) waste pickers believe that collecting recyclable materials contributes to the environment. Conclusions: It can be concluded from the results obtained the social, economic, and environmental importance of the work of waste pickers, despite the precarious conditions in which they perform the activity, without their participation in the base of the recycling chain, perhaps the environmental situation would be more chaotic in recent times.