Consumption habits among recyclers: a methodological approach

Abstract

All individuals regardless of their place in society are exposed and are influenced in many different forms and varying degrees of intensity by consumption patterns. Considering the profession of recyclers quite emblematic for discussing this issue and its various aspects (environmental, social, political, educational), there has been an attempt to know what the recyclers think about consumption: how and what they consume, how they spend their money, what they consider essential and what it is unnecessary for them. The purpose of the research was to hear the opinion of individuals in two phases: during individual interviews and in a group discussion. 34 recyclers from the cooperative Coopere, located in the centre of Sao Paulo participated in the study. The research showed that there is no singular discourse among recyclers, because this is a large and diverse group. The research has shown that given the opportunity of a fixed monthly income by working in recycling, the workers act very differently from each other. Therefore, it was concluded that the process of (re) inclusion is neither instantaneous, nor linear: each individual has his/her own way of developing social skills, and behaves differently towards consumption patterns as well as in managing money. Recycling is not the last step of the production process; for recyclers, it is often the beginning, the starting point of a series of achievements, among which the reconstruction of their dignity.