Inclusive recycling in Belo Horizonte city – integrating informal recyclers cooperatives in urban systems

Waste can be an opportunity for cities to meet social and environmental goals. This paper is based on research carried out by Dias (2002 and 2009) and explores the main features of the system designed by Belo Horizonte city which integrated cooperatives of informal waste pickers into its municipal recycling system. The paper reviews its genesis of organizing, the main dimensions of the recycling system, the work specialization within cooperatives and main impacts of this integrated system.