Title: Implications for waste pickers of Distrito Federal, Brazil arising from the obligation of reverse logistics by the National Policy of Solid Waste

Authors: Patricia Guarnieri; Jorge Alfredo Cerqueira Streit

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brazil ' Department of Business Administration, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brazil

Abstract: This article discusses the implications for waste pickers of Distrito Federal, Brazil arising from the obligation of reverse logistics by the National Policy of Solid Waste - NPSW. In order to reach this objective, a qualitative study was conducted, in which the leaders of 23 waste pickers' cooperatives, located in Distrito Federal were interviewed. The human capital in reverse logistics should be considered taking into account that most recycling activities in developing countries as Brazil, are manual, labour intensive and low-skilled. Therefore, the proper application of legislation favours the generation of jobs, and income for thousands of Brazilians, who act as waste pickers, also enabling better working conditions. Furthermore, the Brazilian experience can serve as an incentive to the creation of policies by the governments of other countries in Latin America.

Keywords: Brazil; legislation; waste collection; informal recycling; National Policy of Solid Waste; NPSW; recyclable materials; recycling; reverse logistics; selective collection; solid waste management; waste pickers; waste picker cooperatives; Latin American; sustainable development; sustainability; human capital; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/LAJMSD.2015.067468

Latin American Journal of Management for Sustainable Development, 2015 Vol.2 No.1, pp.19 - 35

Received: 12 Apr 2013
Accepted: 22 Apr 2013
Published online: 14 Feb 2015 *

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