WASTE PICKERS AND THE NATIONAL SOLID WASTE POLICY (PNRS) IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Waste pickers play a fundamental role in the recycling chain, working in the organization, collection, and recovery of reusable waste, and contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of the participation of associations, cooperatives, and waste pickers in solid waste management in the municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), before and after the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) in 2010. The research was predominantly based on data available from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS). The results indicated that, in 2021, only 15.90% of the municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul reported having waste picker associations. The correlation analysis between the total population of the municipalities and the volume of collected solid waste revealed a strong association (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.9666; r² = 93.43%). The study also identified 14 relevant indicators that may support the development of public policies and future research on the inclusion of waste pickers and the effectiveness of solid waste management in the state.