The Recyclable Material Collectors’ Cooperative “We Recycle and Love the Environment” (Cooper Rama) was created in 2008 by 20 residents of “Jardim Curitiba III” and surrounding neighbourhoods, where several of the residents have lived for some time. The Cooperative collects recyclable materials to generate work and income for recyclable material collectors. These people are excluded from the formal labour market and therefore are socially vulnerable.
The UFG Social Incubator and the launch of the Goiânia Selective Collection together with the Social Inclusion Program of the City Hall and Brasil’s Bank’s Sustainable Regional Development (DRS) strategy paved the way for the cooperative. Cooper Rama started its activities in June 2008, receiving materials from the Selective Collection to start its work. It faced some issues such as lack of PPE and Machinery for better work performance. We all know the importance of recycling for the environment and the economy. And yet, there is a very strong prejudice against those who work with recyclable materials. Many people are very resistant to separating recyclable materials. That damages the environment and leaves the pickers without any means of work.
A frequent challenge for cooperatives is the high turnover of their members. Cooperatives have strict rules regarding the work schedule, the use of alcohol and illicit drugs and the mandatory use of PPE. Some cooperative members do not comply with such rules either because they are working on a temporary basis while receiving unemployment benefits or because they are waiting for a better job opportunity.
It is not easy to find a person to coordinate the work of waste pickers who is able and willing to impose the rules of the cooperative in order to improve performance. Many waste pickers think that the Cooperative has no rules or working standards, and no concern about implementing labor standards. Cooper Rama now has two trucks so it can collect waste in large companies in and around Goiânia. However, many large companies, banks or buildings still do not separate their waste appropriately. They resist the separation of waste to the point that sometimes our waste pickers are even cursed by the residents.
Working with recyclable material is made more dangerous by the fact that many people do not separate their trash properly. We find in the recyclables a large amount of masks and hospital gloves contaminated by various types of virus or bacteria. This poses a threat to the waste pickers who need to remember constantly to wear gloves.To learn more about this, we have interviewed two members of the Cooperative, Aline and Edson. This is what they shared: “We are exposed to all kinds of disease, viruses and bacteria. This type of job is also associated with a high risk of cuts which can be prevented by the use of PPE, hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer” By doing this, both interviewees claimed that they were able to protect themselves from bacteria and virus. Plus, they have avoided allergies.
Because of the Pandemic many cooperative members had to be isolated and stay at home as their COVID-19 test provided by UFG turned positive. As a consequence, almost all activities of the cooperative came to a stop. If they wanted to continue working, all waste pickers were to conform to the rules: social distancing, use of hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, non-sharing of glasses and cutlery in meals, disinfecting the work and administrative area every day at the end of the day.
The Cooperative received food donations to give to the co-members who had to isolate. Those who were still working received a large amount of hand sanitizing, masks, soap and face shields.
The cooperative had 42 members aged from 18 to 60 years. The waste pickers and drivers work in groups collecting, unloading and separating waste; some work in administrative offices. They meet once a week in the Cooperative. Some members did not have basic habits such as washing their hands before meals and/or when leaving the bathroom or washing their uniforms daily. They share cigarettes, glasses and dishes. They play football every day after work to relieve the stress.
With the arrival of this new virus, some cooperative workers who are part of the risk group had to be isolated and stay home; all had to adapt to the new rules. It is not easy for cooperative workers to adapt to the new working conditions with fewer co-workers and new rules: use of hand sanitizers, use of masks, social distancing, non-sharing of personal belongings, and constant hand-washing. The Cooperative made internal changes, organizing people in different groups and imposing social distancing. Imposing the mandatory use of the mask and hand sanitizing turned out to be the hardest rules to implement. The meetings moved to the open air, and so did the break. The football matches stopped. The end-of-year party was cancelled, as social distancing wasimposed and gatherings were banned.
Some say this virus could be a political invention or even a marketing ploy. For some it is the creation of a Chinese laboratory or a biblical plague becoming reality. Others simply do not believe in its existence, endangering themselves and their co-workers.
Most of the time our co-workers get their news from social media, television, Facebook and WhatsApp. Some of them have certain doubts that they clarify by talking among them or with the cooperative management. They learn about the pandemic by talking to each other, passing the information to other people at home, to their friends, neighbors and family members.
The greatest difficulty is to keep the mask on at work. They say that: the mask hurts; it makes us suffocate; it gets in the way; it fogs our glasses;it is not the company policy to force them to work with a mask on.
Members do not like to have to stay at home and respect social isolation. Many say they will not contract the virus just by doing their work. The use of hand sanitizer is another problem. Many members do not have the habit of washing their hands constantly. The importance of basic hygiene as a mean of prevention must be constantly emphasized.
COVID-19 tests were performed in partnership with UFG for all cooperative members, some results were positive. Those members with positive diagnosis had to stop working and quarantine for 15 days at home.
Mr. Brás (the driver) was tested and after 12 days, he got the result of a positive test. The doctor contacted him and explained that as it had already been 12 days he could continue working, that his quarantine days were already over. If he felt ill, short of breath, had muscle pain, he would need to stop working and go to the hospital. The management of the cooperative advised him to always use the mask and alcohol gel inside the truck.
Submitted by Lorena and Daniel