SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: A STUDY BASED ON A RECYCLING COOPERATIVE

Abstract

The increasing generation of solid waste has become one of the main environmental challenges faced by contemporary societies, requiring efficient management strategies and proper disposal methods. In this context, waste pickers’ cooperatives play a fundamental role in selective collection and material recycling, contributing to the reduction of environmental impacts as well as to the generation of employment and income. This study aims to analyze the pathway of urban solid waste based on the activities carried out by the Waste Pickers Cooperative of Limoeiro (COORPAR), located in the municipality of Limoeiro, Pernambuco, relating this process to waste management and Chemistry education. The research is characterized as a qualitative study with a descriptive approach, involving a bibliographic review, a technical visit to the cooperative, and a semi-structured interview with the institution’s coordinator. The results showed that the waste pathway involves several stages, ranging from its generation in households to industrial recycling, with plastic being the material most frequently discarded by the population. It is concluded that COORPAR’s activities contribute to the environmental management of the municipality and present educational potential for contextualizing Chemistry teaching and promoting environmental education.