Bispo, Cristina de SouzaColombo, Ciliana ReginaBraz, Regina de Fátima dos SantosMedeiros, Marjorie da Fonseca e SilvaSouza, Maria de Fátima de2020-12-072020-12-072017BISPO, Cristina de Souza; COLOMBO, Ciliana Regina; BRAZ, Regina de Fátima dos Santos; MEDEIROS, Marjorie da Fonseca e Silva; SOUZA, Maria de Fátima de. Coleta seletiva em Natal/RN: cenário das cooperativas de materiais. 2017, São Paulo. Revista Metropolitana de Sustentabilidade, [S.l.], v. 7, n. 1, p. 141-159, abr. 2017. ISSN 2318-3233. Disponível em: http://revistaseletronicas.fmu.br/index.php/rms/article/view/1020. Acesso em: 07 dez. 2020.2318-3233https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/30881This article aims to present the system of selective collection in Natal/RN, as well as to characterize the physical and human resources of the two cooperatives of recyclable materials from the city, in the years 2012 and 2013. Such characterization occurred through a investigation of reality. The research consisted of a case study applied in nature exploratory and descriptive, with the methodological tools technical visits and semi structured interviews; from which we could obtain data regarding the history of selective collection, but also about various aspects of cooperatives. Based on the research, it is clear that cooperatives have a precarious structure that directly affects the development of the activity and the quality of life of collectors involved in the recycling chain.CooperativasMateriais recicláveisDesenvolvimentoQualidade de vidaTtrabalhadoresarticle