Title: MSW recycling as a mechanism for the social inclusion in Brazil

Authors: Fatima A. Morais Lino; Kamal Abdel Radi Ismail

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, The State University of Campinas. Rua Mendeleiev, 200, Campus Zeferino Vaz, Barão Geraldo, Campinas, Postal Code 13083-860, S. P., Brazil ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, The State University of Campinas. Rua Mendeleiev, 200, Campus Zeferino Vaz, Barão Geraldo, Campinas, Postal Code 13083-860, S. P., Brazil

Abstract: This paper presents an evaluation of the recycling as a mechanism that can promote the social inclusion in Brazil. The analysis is based on the data from a Brazilian metropolitan, city of Campinas and is extended to Brazil. The results show that the municipality of Campinas collects monthly 8000 tons of recyclables, which if recycled can avail jobs to nearly 5000 waste collectors each receiving a minimum national salary of R$ 500/month, or alternatively can create 12,500 Family Grants at the value of R$ 200/month. In Brazil, the collected recyclables potential is about 1.2 million tons per month, which can avail jobs to 733,594 waste collectors or alternatively creates 1.8 million Family Grants. For these reasons, the authors propose the programme of selective collection and recycling as an alternative way to achieve the objective of the recommendation MDG1 of the UN.

Keywords: municipal solid waste; MSW; waste management; recycling; social inclusion; environment; Brazil; employment; jobs; family grants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2013.056195

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2013 Vol.12 No.3, pp.264 - 279

Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

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