The Waste and Citizenship Forum of Belo Horizonte: challenges and achievements in social participation and waste management

Abstract

The Municipal Forum on Waste and Citizenship of Belo Horizonte (FMLC-BH) was created in 2004 as a space for active participation and dialogue between recyclable material collectors and public managers, aimed at formulating and implementing selective waste collection policies. Over decades, the Forum has played a central role in the enforcement of the rights of waste pickers and in solid waste management within the municipality. This article aims to describe the Forum's creation trajectory, evaluate its contribution to social participation and reflect on the challenges faced over this period. Research was elaborated in literature review, document analysis and an interview with a local cooperative leader. Among the Forum’s main achievements are the formal inclusion of waste pickers in public policies and the creation of an effective dialogue channel with public authorities. The conclusion is that, although the FMLC-BH has achieved significant progress, its sustainability and effectiveness depend on overcoming structural barriers and expanding the debate on the importance of social participation in socio environmental policies.