Gestão baseada em indicadores socioambientais para cooperativa de catadores de materiais recicláveis.

Abstract

Solid waste management represents an environmental and social challenge, in which recycling cooperatives play a crucial role. The lack of support and recognition is a problem faced by most cooperatives. This research’s objective was to create the Ferramenta de Avaliação de Impactos Socioambientais em Cooperativas de Catadores Cooperatives (FAISC, “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Tool for Waste Pickers' Cooperatives”, translated from Portuguese), which uses socio-environmental indicators to improve the management of these cooperatives and reinforce environmental education. The research was conducted through a literature review and the adaptation of the Gerenciamento de Aspectos e Impactos Ambientais (GAIA, "Environmental Aspects and Impacts Management", translated from Portuguese) tool, which was used in the Cooperativa de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis de Rio Pardo (COCAMARP) – RS - Brazil. Subsequently, we sought to assess the perception of COCAMARP's image by different stakeholders. The results indicated that, despite the structural obstacles, the cooperative presents an adequate level of sustainability (57.9%), making the necessary efforts to comply with current legislation, but needing more support from the government. The application of the tool made it possible to identify relevant environmental and social indicators, helping to improve the working conditions of waste pickers. It is concluded that the recognition of cooperatives requires the active participation of the government, the inclusion of waste pickers in environmental policies and the expansion of environmental education.