ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Waste production and management from residents and collection for sorting are systems heavily dependent on territorial dimensions. Ergonomic research needs to better integrate such territorial determinants to improve work conditions and design sustainable work systems. OBJECTIVE: Through studies in France and Brazil, this paper analyzes the territorial relations that raise work systems' sustainability challenges for materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and waste management in both countries and examines the links between work activity and territory in MRFs. METHODS: Both studies were based on the principles of activity-oriented ergonomics and used analyses of work activity and sociotechnical systems. The French study focused on interventions conducted over a 42-month period in five MRFs. The Brazilian study was based on a 20-month longitudinal qualitative and quantitative study. RESULTS: In this paper, we argue that territory is a key determining factor in waste production and work. Notably, the consumption patterns of residents and the economic flows within a geographic space determine the waste composition; and the territorially specified public policies, which define technical and social dimensions of waste collection and sorting. However, the territorial dimensions of waste are poorly considered in facility design. Workers' health and sorting system performance are thus affected and negatively compromising plant performance. CONCLUSION: The territory appears as a blind spot in the design of work systems. One of the challenges is to create interfaces and devices that could help to integrate better human activity and waste territorialized anchorage, in a multilevel organization, from local communities to the global recycling chains.
Subject(s)
Refuse Disposal , Waste Management , Humans , Brazil , Waste Management/methods , Recycling , France , CitiesABSTRACT
O movimento social dos catadores conquistou importantes políticas públicas direcionadas à sua atividade e à reciclagem. Neste artigo, após identificar instrumentos de políticas socioambientais relacionadas à reciclagem, são analisadas dificuldades operacionais enfrentadas pelas associações de catadores (ACs) para torná-los efetivos. A análise documental desses instrumentos evidencia contradições implícitas, tornadas aparentes quando se confrontam as políticas à experiência cotidiana dos catadores. Diante dessas contradições, nossa tese é que, para além da ação política, a atuação durável das ACs depende da sustentabilidade operacional dos empreendimentos. Análises do ponto de vista operacional, realizadas por uma equipe técnica integrada à rede social de apoio à organização e gestão operacional das associações, identificam fragilidades a serem enfrentadas para dar sustentabilidade às ACs e à reciclagem como alternativa socioambiental de tratamento do lixo urbano. Mais que reforçar as políticas, enfatizamos a necessidade de ações articuladas em uma estratégia específica, sob a orientação do movimento social dos catadores(AU)
The waste pickers social movement has won important public policies to improve its activity and recycling. In this paper, after identifying social and environmental policy instruments related to recycling, the difficulties faced by the waste pickers associations (WAs) to apply them are discussed. Documental analysis of these instruments reveals implicit contradictions, made apparent when these policies are confronted to the daily experiences of waste pickers. Given these contradictions, our thesis is that in addition to political action, the durable performance of WAs depends on the sustainability of operational processes. Analyses from an operational point of view, held by a technical group integrated in the social network that supports the organization and operational management of associations, identify weaknesses to be overcome to give sustainability to the WAs and recycling as a socio-environmental alternative treatment of urban waste. More than reinforcing policies, we emphasize the need for coordinated actions organized in a specific strategy, under the governance of the waste pickers social movement(AU)
ABSTRACT
O movimento social dos catadores conquistou importantes políticas públicas direcionadas à sua atividade e à reciclagem. Neste artigo, após identificar instrumentos de políticas socioambientais relacionadas à reciclagem, são analisadas dificuldades operacionais enfrentadas pelas associações de catadores (ACs) para torná-los efetivos. A análise documental desses instrumentos evidencia contradições implícitas, tornadas aparentes quando se confrontam as políticas à experiência cotidiana dos catadores. Diante dessas contradições, nossa tese é que, para além da ação política, a atuação durável das ACs depende da sustentabilidade operacional dos empreendimentos. Análises do ponto de vista operacional, realizadas por uma equipe técnica integrada à rede social de apoio à organização e gestão operacional das associações, identificam fragilidades a serem enfrentadas para dar sustentabilidade às ACs e à reciclagem como alternativa socioambiental de tratamento do lixo urbano. Mais que reforçar as políticas, enfatizamos a necessidade de ações articuladas em uma estratégia específica, sob a orientação do movimento social dos catadores.
The waste pickers social movement has won important public policies to improve its activity and recycling. In this paper, after identifying social and environmental policy instruments related to recycling, the difficulties faced by the waste pickers associations (WAs) to apply them are discussed. Documental analysis of these instruments reveals implicit contradictions, made apparent when these policies are confronted to the daily experiences of waste pickers. Given these contradictions, our thesis is that in addition to political action, the durable performance of WAs depends on the sustainability of operational processes. Analyses from an operational point of view, held by a technical group integrated in the social network that supports the organization and operational management of associations, identify weaknesses to be overcome to give sustainability to the WAs and recycling as a socio-environmental alternative treatment of urban waste. More than reinforcing policies, we emphasize the need for coordinated actions organized in a specific strategy, under the governance of the waste pickers social movement.
