Trajetórias de vida dos catadores do antigo lixão da Caturrita: a interface entre empoderamento, pobreza e meio ambiente

Abstract

This study sociologically analyzes two groups of people whose life trajectories have their origin in the economy and sociability of the trash, and from these routines, aimed patterns of action that summarize the relationship between environment, poverty and social capital. In this sense, the research focuses on each of these concepts. This research will analyze situations where there is poverty and exclusion, when individuals tend to be less concerned with environmental issues because the question of survival is the primary point in their lives. In settings like these, the socio-political phenomenon of social capital is shown to a degree comparable, ephemeral stage for human groups studied. The scenario for this analysis are two groups of collectors who reside in the Nova Santa Marta District, which until recently worked in the old Dump of Caturrita (in Santa Maria, city situed in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil). Currently, due to the closure of the landfill, many of these workers are unemployed / working informally or employees in a recycling company called Revitá.