The Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis (MNCR) is a grassroots social movement founded in 2001 that organises recyclable material collectors (catadores) across Brazil. Rooted in self-management and solidarity economy principles, the MNCR seeks to defend the rights and dignity of waste pickers by promoting their inclusion in municipal waste systems, access to social protection, and participation in public policy.
The movement unites over 800 cooperatives and associations, collectively representing more than 70,000 waste pickers nationwide. It emerged from decades of informal organising among marginalised waste workers.
The MNCR in Brazil has become a globally recognised model of inclusion and empowerment. Its success stems from strong grassroots leadership, strategic advocacy that contributed to Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy, and partnerships with civil society and government institutions. Through cooperative models, the MNCR has helped improve working conditions, incomes, and social dignity for waste pickers. However, the movement continues to face challenges, such as inconsistent municipal support, lack of infrastructure, fluctuating material prices, and persistent social stigma.
Country: Brazil
Established: 2001
Scope: National (over 800 cooperatives and associations)
Target group: Waste pickers (catadores), primarily from low-income and marginalised groups
Focus areas: Social inclusion, cooperative development, recycling, policy advocacy
Website: mncr.org.br
Social inclusion: Waste pickers were legally recognised in Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS, 2010), granting them formal roles in recycling services
Livelihood security: MNCR members gain access to cooperative-run income systems, social security benefits, and basic rights
Environmental benefits: MNCR estimates that its members divert more than 1,000,000 tons of waste from landfills annually
Political representation: The movement has secured a seat at major policy tables, including the Ministry of Environment, influencing sustainable waste planning
Gender empowerment: A significant portion of MNCR members are women, and many cooperatives are female-led
Strong grassroots organisation: Peer-to-peer organising and long-term movement building are central
Government collaboration: Municipal and federal support enabled access to public contracts, training, and facilities
Legal frameworks: Inclusion in national waste laws legitimised the role of waste pickers and enabled financing mechanisms
Capacity building: Training programmes in cooperative management, safety, and logistics enhanced operational capacity.
Solidarity Economy Networks: Partnerships with NGOs, universities, and international donors supported system strengthening.
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Opportunity in Lebanon |
Lessons from MNCR |
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Informal waste picker exclusion |
Organising pickers into cooperatives builds bargaining power and legitimacy |
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Lack of legal recognition |
Advocacy for recognition within national waste policies can unlock funding and protection |
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Decentralised systems |
Cooperative-run sorting and collection is viable in small towns and rural areas |
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Stigmatisation of pickers |
Public campaigns and education initiatives led by waste pickers themselves help shift public perceptions |
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Limited municipal budgets |
Partnerships between cooperatives and local governments can deliver low-cost, effective recycling services |
This case study is shared for educational purposes and to inspire replication of good practices in Lebanon and beyond. Content is based on publicly available information and may be updated upon request by the project owners.