Inclusão e Capacitação de Catadores para a Logística Reversa: Combate à Pobreza e à Poluição Inclusion and Training of Waste Pickers for the Implementation of Reverse Logistics: Combating Poverty and Pollution

Since the approval of the Brazilian National Policy of Solid Waste, the work of waste pickers of recyclable materials has been recognized as a key element in the reverse logistics field. The CATAFORTE project was launched in order to strengthen the role of recycling cooperatives. The objective of this paper is to describe the relationship between waste pickers and partner companies in the process of reverse logistics within the context of the CATAFORTE I project, which operates in Brazil’s Distrito Federal. The research is applied, descriptive and qualitative, as technical procedure was carried out a case study. Documental analysis, focal groups, direct observation and semi-structured interviews were employed for data collection purposes. The authors found that the relationship between waste pickers and institutions can be characterized as partnerships based on the companies socioeconomic and political motivations. It was also observed that waste pickers cooperatives still have not an adequate structure and income to effectively operate.