Health and work impacts on Rio de Janeiro waste pickers’ cooperatives during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020/2021)

Bibliographic Data

ID21711121
AuthorsLuiggia Girardi Bastos Reis de Araujo (0000-0002-5471-7678, Federal Institute of Education, Sciences and Technology of Rio de Janeiro - IFRJ, Brazil), Pammela Primo de Oliveira Silva (0000-0001-7704-0818, State University of Rio de Janeiro - UERJ, Brasil), Ana Ghislane Henriques Pereira van Elk (0000-0002-7816-3622, State University of Rio de Janeiro - UERJ, Brasil)
Year2025
Volume28
Publication date2025-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmbiente & sociedade (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1414-753X • E-ISSN: 1809-4422
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/1809-4422asoc00401vu28l3oa
OpenAlexW4416805651
SciELOS1414-753X2025000100308
LanguageEN
References cited25

Waste pickers play an essential role in the management of recyclable solid waste. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020/2021) has created a risk scenario due to the suspension or reduction of selective collection in several Brazilian municipalities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on recycling cooperatives in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. In 2021, semi-structured interviews about working conditions during the pandemic were conducted in 12 of the 25 cooperatives registered with the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro. The main control practices were disinfection of the shed and hands, distancing and dismissal of vulnerable workers. 8 to 11 cooperatives reported the use of gloves, boots, goggles and masks as PPE. The use of 70% alcohol was reported by all cooperatives. 96.4% of cooperative members were vaccinated, with 20 cases of infection up until the time of the interview. Basic food baskets from philanthropic sources were the main support received, emphasizing the omission of public authorities

Dismissal · Enforcement · Pandemic · Public health · COVID-19 impact on air quality · Healthcare and Environmental Waste Management · Municipal Solid Waste Management

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