Between Marginality and Resilience: A Look at the Social Structure of Waste Pickers in the Cateura Landfill in Asunción, Paraguay

Abstract

This article examines the dominant social structure in the organizational form of waste pickers at the Cateura landfill in Asunción, Paraguay. Through a qualitative approach and a case study, the relationships of production, power, and experience in the context of informal recycling are analyzed, using Manuel Castells’ theories as a theoretical framework. The results reveal the complexity of power networks and social relationships that influence the distribution of resources and the configuration of roles within the community. The study highlights the socioeconomic and environmental challenges faced by waste pickers, as well as the community’s capacity for resilience and adaptation. The study contributes to the knowledge of social structures in contexts of informality and proposes recommendations for public policies and social interventions.