Mujeres recicladoras en el espacio público: perfil, desafíos y estrategias urbanas para su bienestar. Caso Cuenca, Ecuador

Worldwide, millions of grassroots female recyclers work in precarious conditions, despite their work being considered essential for sustainability amid the environmental crisis. This research used a mixed-methods approach to understand the living and working conditions of women who recycle on the streets of Cuenca, Ecuador, and face serious labor and social problems. Recycling constitutes a survival activity that involves considerable physical wear, due to the length of the collection routes and the weight of the material transported. However, the social fabric that the recyclers build in their collection areas helps to reduce their vulnerability in the city. The study proposes urban strategies—applicable to cities with similar characteristics—to be implemented and monitored by decision-makers, with to integrate them into public policies.