O "lixo" nosso de cada dia: os catadores informais e o circuito inferior da economia urbana em Ituiutaba-MG

Abstract

The circuits of the urban economy are configured as a new way of reading and characterizing the geographical space of underdeveloped countries. In this sense, for a better understanding regarding the importance of informal collection made by waste pickers from Ituiutaba-MG, this study aimed to analyze the lower circuit of urban economy based on informal waste collection solids in Ituiutaba-MG. Its specific objectives are: to trace the socioeconomic profile of informal waste pickers of recyclable materials; identify working conditions and understand the particularities of the population that works informally with solid waste in Ituiutaba-MG; analyze the economic data of informal collection in Ituiutaba and understand how the connection of the lower circuit with informal waste pickers in Ituiutaba-MG is developed. to waste pickers, identify the singular traits of informal collection of municipal solid waste. In view of this, we tried to approximate the data collected from the reality experienced by waste pickers. To achieve our objectives, the methodology used is the application of questionnaires in order to trace the socioeconomic profile of waste pickers. To this end, 95 waste pickers were interviewed, among men and women of different ages who gave us a significant picture of the conditions of poverty and precariousness of work, based on the informality of income production. In addition to waste pickers, 27 buyers were investigated, owners of the points of destination of recyclable waste that are constituted on the one hand intermediates and who, in a way, guarantee the work of waste pickers, but on the other hand, are responsible precisely for the low pay of the picker, directly influencing the precariousness of work and life, since the amount paid by the recyclable falls short of ensuring to meet the basic needs of the worker. The perspective of this study is that it contributes to the exercise of public policies or even the insertion of universities in social and environmental education strategies, with the purpose of reducing social inequalities in the city.