Study of Recycling of Polymeric Waste in the City of Manaus: The Case of Waste Scavengers

 This paper proposes improvements in recycling in the city of Manaus envisioned as part of the manufacturing process of alternative construction materials using polymer waste. The improvements have the potential to greatly reduce the amount of waste in the environment of Manaus and thus to greatly transform the lives of its residents, especially the impoverished slum dwellers who engage in informal recycling as a means of financial support. Part of the study specifically targeted the waste scavengers and addressed the process of collection, storage, and packaging carried out by these scavengers, focusing on the identification of possible kinds of contamination.