Diagnóstico do perfil socioeconômico de catadores de materiais recicláveis de lixões: o caso do munícipio de Crateús, Ceará

Abstract

Collectors of recyclable materials are fundamental to the adequate management of solid waste. However, these workers are neglected by the government and the population, living, for the most part, in a vulnerable situation. Given this context, this work aimed to carry out a socioeconomic diagnosis of collectors of recyclable materials from the Crateús – CE dump. To this end, bibliographical consultations on the topic and visits to the landfill were carried out in order to get to know the collectors and understand their reality. After that, carry out semi-structured interviews. The collected data was analyzed and systematized in Excel tables, Likert scales and in texts. It was found that the majority of collectors are men; with 57% of respondents being over 47 years old. Furthermore, it was found that more than half of the collectors have worked at the dump for more than ten years and have not completed primary education, with family income varying from R$100.00 to R$500.00 for almost 50% of the sample. Therefore, based on the Likert scale, it is concluded that 93.3% of collectors live in a situation of high social and economic vulnerability, aggravated by not having employment contracts and, consequently, labor rights. It is expected that the public authorities will provide social and professional assistance to the collectors. In addition to include them in the spaces created following the closure of the dump, as a way of taking advantage of their experience in the area and reciprocating all the benefits that, through their work, they currently have for the society.