Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website
Address: Av Cantorno 10 555, Barro Preto CEP: 30110-140 Belo Horizonte City, Mineas Gerais Brazil
Region: Latin America
Occupation of Members: waste pickers, recyclers- paper, cardboard, plastics, metals
Phone: + 55 3132010717, +55 31 3295 5615
Language: Portuguese
Primary Contact: Maria das Gracas Marca
Second Contact: Luiz Henrique
Women's Organization: No
Organization Type: Cooperative /Association
Organization Scope: Local
Workplace of Members: street/open, fixed
Gender Composition: 55% women
IE Members: 380
Affiliations: Movimiento Nacional dos Catadores de Materiais Reciclaveis (MNCR)
Organization Structure: Has a coordinating group elected by members in an assembly every 4 years. Receives technical support from INSEA (NGO) and from local government.
Objectives: To promote citizenship through the organisation of workers to search for their rights. It aims to guarantee the participation of pickers in municipal programmes of selective waste recyclables
Strategy: Formed in 1990 as a result of mobilisation of people who collected recycled materials and lived in the streets of the city. With election of left mayor in 1993 began to make progress. ASMARE collects 450 tons of waste every month. It sells the materials to private industry. Has two centres for waste separation. Collects source separated materials from schools, businesses and residences. 2002 formed a net with 7 other associations to increase power. The net has got support from the local government to build the first plastic recycling plant of the pickers. Active in public debates and political action. Challenges - threat of privatisation- local government wants to give collection contracts to private companies and pickers to separate waste: no social security, no workers rights
Negotiations & Agreements: In 1993 signed an agreement with local government to collect material for city. Municipal law later giving preference to organisations and cooperatives to receive recycling materials. Has a partnership with local government that pays for rent, vehicles to collect, electricity, water and gives some technical support.
Education/Training: Runs programme with Secretariat of Social Assistance which offers courses on recycled materials, facilitated by former street inhabitants now with permanent job with ASMARE
Source of Information: web, questionnaire, visit, Sonia Dias
Date of Entry: 08/08/06
Date Updated: 07/09/10; 26/08/2011