The question of socio-environmental accountability in recycling of plastics in Rio de Janeiro

This study aimed to determine how the activities of recycling impact on health, safety and the environment also raising questions related to social accountability, especially on the compliance with regulatory standards, and the legislation on health, safety and the environment. A questionnaire was developed and was applied directly to a group of recyclers, all located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil being three from the Polyethylene segment and one from ethylene polyterephthalate. It was found that only 24% of the items evaluated were complied with in their entirety, demonstrating a low rate of compliance with issues related to health, safety, environment and social accountability. Ultimately, this study shows that there is a need for greater attention by the government to create an infrastructure for training in order to permeate information on health, safety, environment and social accountability to the professionals who operate in this sector.