RECYCLING OF PLASTIC PACKAGING: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM A WASTE PICKERS' ASSOCIATION

The awakening of society to the importance of environmentally correct disposal encompasses all segments of the population. Although plastic is a material widely used in everyday life, it represents one of the main contemporary environmental problems. Recycling, in contrast to simple disposal, emerges as a fundamental practice for environmental preservation. This article aims to identify how waste pickers, organized in an association, can contribute to minimizing the socio-environmental impacts caused by plastic packaging and, at the same time, be relevant agents in generating income for these workers. To this end, it is essential to analyze the characteristics of plastic packaging and its production process in order to understand its socio-environmental impacts, in addition to investigating the National Solid Waste Policy and its implications for the recycling scenario in Brazil. Methodologically, it is characterized as qualitative research, conducted through a case study with the Pinhais Recyclers Association (AREPI). Data collection was carried out through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire applied to the members. The results indicate that the work of collectors is essential to reducing the amount of waste deposited in landfills, since they are part of a circular and sustainable economy, promoting the recycling of plastic packaging and simultaneously contributing to the creation of job opportunities and income generation.