Panorama dos impactos da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 nas cooperativas de catadores(as) de materiais recicláveis do município do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Waste pickers are fundamental workers for the success of both waste management and the development of urban selective collection and, consequently, industrial recycling. With the emergence of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the spread of the pandemic across the globe, a scenario of potential risk of contagion by SARS-CoV-2 is configured, both as a consequence of their work activities commonly carried out without PPE, because they suffered economic consequences due to the collection activities having been suspended by some municipal authorities, and also because of the decrease in the volume of material sent to the cooperatives. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the activity of waste pickers and recycled materials cooperatives in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Understanding that the current pandemic in Brazil is devastating, with 688,000 Brazilians dying from COVID-19 as of October 2022, it is important to carry out research to devise public policies for the safety and protection of two workers. This investigation does not fit into a type of qualitative-quantitative methodology, but rather as a case study and the collection of data on the impacts of the pandemic was carried out in the form of a structured interview. Among the results, all cooperatives declared that most of the source of the material collected is for COMLURB, and they did not receive help for the services provided, totaling 100% of the two interviewees. Regarding the practices to prevent the spread of the virus most cited by cooperatives, the most cited was hand hygiene. Ten of the twelve cooperatives will say that they will increase or take care of the process of sorting, reinforcing or using PPE. The results show that it is necessary to develop public policies to guarantee or work two collectors in times of a pandemic.