Haddad announces R$ 40 million for waste picker cooperatives.

Flavia Albuquerque
Reporter from Agência Brasil

São Paulo – The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) is expected to announce this Thursday, the 19th, the transfer of R$ 40 million in non-refundable funds to recycling sorting centers. This information was released on Wednesday by the mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, at the opening of the fourth edition of Expocatadores 2013, an event that brings together waste pickers from 26 Brazilian states.

According to Haddad, the resources were obtained through a partnership between the city hall and cooperatives of recyclable material collectors. He also said that, in May 2014, the city will have two mechanized sorting centers. "The goal of 10% collection of recyclable material is almost secured. In addition to these two next year, we will have two more in 2016. Then we will have reached the 10% goal in partnership with the collectors, because mechanization is not to replace them, but to increase their income and include more people who are already involved in this process."

Haddad also pledged that there would be no differentiation between workers in mechanized and non-mechanized sorting. According to him, each mechanized station will produce the equivalent of the 20 existing non-mechanized stations in São Paulo, employing far fewer people. "We will see all of this as a single recycling system. In January, we will meet with the waste pickers to discuss the management of the centers, and the decision will be made jointly. We want to create a governance environment in which everyone can benefit from the increased collection in São Paulo."

The coordinator of Expocatadores 2013 and representative of the National Movement of Recyclable Material Collectors, Roberto Laureano, highlighted that the event aims to discuss and strengthen the sector's production chain in a sustainable and inclusive way. The event promotes a business fair, lectures, and cultural attractions. The organization estimates that 3 collectors from Brazil and 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Europe will participate.

According to Laureano, the process of organizing waste pickers in the city of São Paulo is still very small, and the request to the city hall is for more cooperatives to be created and for the movement to be strengthened. "We cannot remain shielded in 20 processing centers when we have more than 50 cooperatives without agreements and without support from the city hall. We want them to be recognized, to expand the process in São Paulo."

According to him, there are currently 3 cooperatives in the country, bringing together 20 waste pickers. In the city of São Paulo, there are 80 waste pickers and 80 cooperatives. "There are 1 million waste pickers in the country who still need training and to be included in associations." In addition to organizing these workers, the movement's objective is to create the mindset that the activity is a business that can be done with technology and generate profit.

According to information from the organization, last year the fair generated partnerships that resulted in revenue of R$ 30 million. This year, the expectation is that this amount will double due to government incentives and the approaching deadline for the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy Law.