Iara Meiri de Melo Moura Silva, 40, a mother of two, began working in the recycling market over 20 years ago with her mother, who came to Rio de Janeiro from the North East aged 17 years old. Iara is one of the female leaders in waste picker cooperatives in the State of Rio de Janeiro, in the Beija Flor Cooperative. Behind her love for her profession, Iara talks about the welcoming and learning space that exists in the cooperatives.

The recycling market in Rio de Janeiro is not for “amateurs”. And those in charge of the management of many of the existing cooperatives are female entrepreneurs. In the context of the covid pandemic, in particular, it is necessary to adapt, try out new processes, and take risks to generate more business. Read below one more story of our series of inspiring women who fight for the valorisation of the environmental services provided by waste collectors.