A reciclagem de resíduos sólidos na região do Vale do Rio Pardo e seus discursos : uma questão ambiental, social, econômica e política.

Abstract

The description of a scenario of recycling of solid waste requires an analysis of environmental, social, economic and political relationships between the actors involved in the issue. In the context of the region of Vale do Rio Pardo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, we seek to understand the structural and cyclical factors that inhibit the development of the recycling practices recognized as a source of countless gains in all dimensions to all actors. The analytical approach is based on critical discourse analysis (CDA) of several actors, as recyclable material pickers, government, civil society and companies, and their interactions defining an arena about this special issue. Power relations are presented that show some actors, specially the recyclable material pickers, with fewer opportunities acting within the scenario. The details of the conflict and the presentation of arguments in the four dimensions are the contributions that our discourse has to contribute to the structure of this scenario that requires changes. The process of change became clear when we present the local achievements (creation of the Forum for Action in Selective Collection and of the management of the Local Waste Segregation Unit, of Santa Cruz do Sul, to the pickers` cooperative), national (publication of the National Solid Waste Policy) and international ("Green" World Cup of Soccer, in 2014, in Brazil), which enable new strategies to each one of the actors. We also notice in our discourse (explicit in the thesis format) that the development of the political dimension, either with the institutionalization of legal structures or with the seemingly straightforward articulation and the communication between the actors is the main road to be improved in society to construct public policies that fulfill the needs and common minimum conditions for improving the quality of life and the resulting, individual or collective, persuit of happiness.