Brazil generates 200000 tons of trash everyday, and only one per cent is recycled. The Catadores (scavengers or binners) who are the people that collect trash selectively to sell it to recycling companies, recycle 99 per cent of all the recycled material in the country.
This occupation is growing everyday in countries with a high level of poverty. It helps to reduce the exploitation of natural resources, reduces pollution and the volume of trash dumped in the landfills, as well as helping the Catadores to escape famine, extreme poverty and also criminality. In Brazil alone, the estimated number of Catadores is between 200.000 and 800.000
Despite their economical and environmental importance to the country, the Catadores´ living conditions are awful. They normally work informally, with no medical insurance or contract. They are used to dealing with the client for cash but they increasingly are starting to work for organisations, cooperatives and even companies which stand up for their rights and pay a fairer price for their work.
They are discriminated and exposed to a lot of dangers, like unhealthy materials or toxic waste, infections and diseases. Especially at night when the visibility is low and they work in dangerous areas with no police protection.
This is why the Catadores are claiming more safety, basic social services, no exploitation or discrimination.
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