Climate & Waste Pickers Bulletin, issue nº 2
The Climate & Waste Pickers Bulletin summarizes the findings from monitoring activities aimed at identifying and documenting the impacts of extreme weather events on the workspaces of recycling cooperatives and waste pickers in Brazil.
In this edition, the bulletin presents the case of the ACMR cooperative, located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil, which faced a prolonged heat wave between February and March 2025. The high temperatures affected the health of the workers, caused drops in productivity, and revealed the lack of adequate infrastructure to cope with extreme heat. In interviews, waste pickers reported headaches, fatigue, and discomfort during their shifts. The heat made it difficult to concentrate and work efficiently, compromising their income and well-being. The situation emphasized the urgent need for improved ventilation, hydration, and climate-adaptive measures in sorting centers.
This initiative is part of WIEGO’s Extreme Climate Events Monitoring Project, supported by the Mãos Pro Futuro Program, which operates in six Brazilian capitals.
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