Waste to Energy, Wasting Resources and Livelihoods

Gutberlet, Jutta

doi:10.5772/17195

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…If household waste is not adequately collected, separated, and treated, as is often the case in low-and medium-income countries, not only the toxic components but also all waste can potentially become hazardous, generating long term and cumulative environmental and human health impacts. The health of local communities, particularly low-income neighbourhoods, is not only affected by the accumulation of uncollected waste [4][5][6] but can also be compromised by waste management facilities, including dumps, landfills, and incinerators [7]. Without protective equipment and awareness on how to handle these potentially risky materials, household waste becomes hazardous and poses health risks to those handling garbage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries

Gutberlet

Uddin

2017

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

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153

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Household waste has evolved into a core urban challenge, with increased quantities of waste being generated and with more complex material compositions, often containing toxic and hazardous elements. Critical systems theory understands cities as urban metabolisms, with different material and energy flows, highlighting the circularity in production, consumption, and discard. Waste pickers in low- and medium-income countries work on dumps and landfills, sifting through highly contaminated household waste and are exposed to health hazards. This paper discusses the risk factors, hazards, and vulnerabilities waste pickers are exposed to during collection and separation of recyclables, based on the review of literature on waste and environmental health and on findings from participatory research with waste pickers conducted in Brazil. We take a social and environmental justice perspective and identify the vulnerabilities and waste-borne hazards of household waste, associated with these workers, their communities, watersheds, and the environment. Household waste, although not always per se toxic or hazardous, can become a hazard if not collected or inadequately managed. Those communities where household waste is not collected or waste collection is insufficient are the most critical places. Informal and organized waste pickers, municipal or private waste collectors/workers, small waste traders and sometimes residents, particularly small children, may be considered vulnerable if exposed to waste-borne hazards. The results include recommendations to address household waste-borne hazards and vulnerabilities, according to waste workers involved in this research.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries

Gutberlet

Uddin

2017

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

Self Cite

153

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“…According to a national survey in the early 2000s by the network Lixo e Cidadania, 37% of the municipalities in Brazil acknowledged having informal recyclers separating landfill, particularly in cities of over 50 000 inhabitants (Gutberlet, 2008b). It is estimated that there are approximately two million catadore/as (recyclers) in Brazil, out of which 60 000 are organised into cooperatives and associations (Gutberlet, 2011). In the metropolitan region of Sa˜o Paulo many of the recyclers -catadores and catadoras, carrinheiros, carroceiros or recuperadores -are organised in cooperatives that provide employment, improved working conditions and increased environmental education (Gutberlet, 2008a).…”

Section: The Role Of Recycling Cooperatives In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the metropolitan region of Sa˜o Paulo many of the recyclers -catadores and catadoras, carrinheiros, carroceiros or recuperadores -are organised in cooperatives that provide employment, improved working conditions and increased environmental education (Gutberlet, 2008a). For example, the recycling forum Forum Recicla Sa˜o Paulo includes 29 groups (cooperatives, associations and other grassroots recycling initiatives) (Gutberlet, 2011).…”

Section: The Role Of Recycling Cooperatives In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The law (articles 41 and 42) specifically guarantees the contemplation of recycling cooperatives and associations in the waste management plan and in addressing the needs of these groups to participate in the implementation of the programmes. Despite these innovative policies for inclusive programmes, there are a number of shortcomings that make the inclusion of cooperatives still problematic, if not impossible (Gutberlet, 2011).…”

Section: The Role Of Recycling Cooperatives In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, this waste management option does not take into consideration options for resource recovery, reuse, recycling and other promotions of waste reduction. Gutberlet (2011) highlighted serious alerts to this trend, particularly for the recycling sector.…”

Section: Remuneration For Catadore/asmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards inclusive waste management: participatory video as a communication tool

Tremblay

2013

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and R

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This paper describes the outcomes of a participatory video (PV) project with recycling cooperatives in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil between 2008 and 2012. Through a participatory action research approach, four PVs were co-produced and a collaborative research design was developed with participants to use the videos as a communication tool for enhancing dialogue and promoting inclusive and integrated approaches to waste management with policy makers. The catadore/as (‘recyclers’) involved are all participants of the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management (PSWM) project, a six-year partnership programme between the University of Victoria, the University of São Paulo, over 30 recycling cooperatives, municipal governments and various non-governmental organisations in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. This paper explores the methodological and theoretical contributions of using PV for enhancing the representation of catadore/as and the potential for shifting power dynamics in spaces of public policy. It also points to the growing organisation (and movement) of recycling cooperatives and associations as instrumental in improving the livelihoods of recyclers and crucial to expanding models of PSWM. The key findings highlight: the importance of building strong partnerships between the government and the recyclers; the necessary expansion of environmental education programmes valuing the principles of PSWM; and the need for adequate public policies to support these initiatives. The paper also draws attention to the relationship of power and knowledge that emerged through this process and reflects on the changing nature of citizen engagement in policy processes.

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Development of a social impact assessment methodology for recycling systems in low-income countries

Aparcana

Salhofer

2013

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Informal recycling is one of the most significant activities within waste management systems in low income countries. The main aspect of a number of recently implemented waste management systems has been to organise the informal recycling sector and to integrate it as a formal stakeholder. These formalisation approaches are expected to eliminate not only the poor economic situation of informal recyclers but also their common social problems e.g. social rejection, lack of education and inappropriate health and working conditions. However the effectively elimination of social problems related to the informal sector has not been precisely measured and evaluated. A lack of methodology to assess social impacts persists, as does the comparison of different formalisation approaches. This work aims to develop a methodology for assessing the contribution of formalisation approaches in terms of social impacts. A further goal is to determine the feasibility of applying this methodology by identifying and measuring the social impacts of three case studies in Peru. A review of literature was carried out in order to describe the current situation of waste management systems in low income countries and to evaluate some existing social impact assessment approaches including sLCA. For the social impact assessment this study proposes an approach based oriented towards the Social Life Cycle Assessment methodology (sLCA) considering 3 social impact categories, 9 social subcategories and 26 semi-quantitative indicators for the social. The methodology was tested on three Peruvian case studies with two different formalisation approaches thereby confirming or rebutting the expectations and forecasts of organisations (NGOs, Local Authorities, Ministries & Business) involved in the implementation. It can be concluded that although sLCA was originally used to analyse the environmental impacts of products, it is feasible to adapt it for the social assessment of recycling systems based on formalisation of the informal sector in low income countries. The impact categories and subcategories identified represent the social problems of informal recyclers. The comparison of current social impacts between different formalisation approaches using this methodology is also viable. A further conclusion is that it is feasible to measure the social impacts of formalisation approaches using the selected indicators and characterisation procedure.

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Waste to Energy, Wasting Resources and Livelihoods

Cited by 13 publications

References 13 publications

Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries

Household waste and health risks affecting waste pickers and the environment in low- and middle-income countries

Towards inclusive waste management: participatory video as a communication tool

Development of a social impact assessment methodology for recycling systems in low-income countries

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