Cartoneros | Catadores | Pepenadores
Grassroots Recyclers in Latin America
Cartonera books are made from salvaged cardboard, purchased from urban grassroots recyclers known in Argentina as cartoneros, a term from the Spanish word cartón [cardboard]. In Brazil they are called catadores and in Mexico, pepenadores.
In 2001, a severe financial crisis hit Argentina and other parts of Latin America. There was widespread social and political unrest, and unemployment reached 20%. Many took to the streets to survive, and the number of people who recycled cardboard and other waste materials for a living rose.
It is estimated that up to 3.8 million people in Latin America make a living, partially or in full, from recycling waste, especially cardboard and paper. In Brazil, they are responsible for collecting between 10 and 20% of urban solid residues, and 90% of all recyclables in the country (paper, glass, metal) are collected by catadores and catadoras (male and female recyclers).
Nowadays, in Brazil, one kilo of recycled cardboard sells for R$0.30 Brazilian cents (about $0.08 Canadian cents). To make a minimum salary of 1,300 BRL a month (about 350 CAD), a catador needs to recycle about 4 tonnes of cardboard.
Photo credits (clockwise from top left):
perfil.com; redebrasilatual.com.br;