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 (Perfil, 2014).
These recyclable material collectors, who make a living partially or fully from recycling waste, especially cardboard and paper, total more than 20 million people worldwide, with around 4 million in Latin America and over 800,000 in Brazil (Agência Gov, 2024).
Catadores Play a Central Role in Recycling in São Paulo
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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 (Trillia, 2010).
In the image on the right, organizations of cartonera workers organized under the Federación Argentina de Cartoneros, Carreros y Recicladores (FACCyR) [Argentine Federation of Cardboard Collectors, Cart Collectors and Recyclers] are marching to support the presentation of the “Proyecto de Ley de Envases con Inclusion Social” [Draft Law on Packaging with Social Inclusion], which proposes that the companies producing packaged goods should be responsible for the cost of recycling the packaging they place on the market, creating a fund that will be allocated to improving the working conditions of cartoneros. (Página 12, 2021).
["The world's largest 'cartonera' march" reached Congress.]
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In Brazil, catadores and catadoras—male and female recyclers—are responsible for collecting 90% of all recyclables in the country (Instituto de Economia Aplicada (IPEA), 2013).
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, household waste increased from 4.86 kg to 5.83 kg per week. Waste pickers struggled as recyclable materials shifted from businesses to homes, making their work harder. Despite this, many remained active, playing a vital role in urban cleaning during the pandemic (Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil, 2020).
Catadores Are Responsible for 90% of Recycled Waste in Brazil.
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According to the Anuário da Reciclagem 2023 [Recycling Yearbook 2023] (page 43), in Brazil, one kilo of recycled cardboard was sold for an average of R$0.46 [Brazilian Real] (about $0.11 CAD) in 2022.
To make a minimum salary of 1,412 BRL per month (about 348 CAD), a catador would need to recycle approximately 3 tonnes of cardboard.
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