Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva receives the presidential sash from Aline Sousa, a 33-year-old collector of recyclable materials. Carl de Souza/AFP) March 14, 2023 In Brazil, the future of environmental sustainability needs a strong ally: collectors of recyclable materials Jannsen Santana, EM Lyon Business School; Daiane Scaraboto, The University of Melbourne, and Flavia Cardoso Collectors of recyclable materials are omnipresent in developing countries such as Brazil, and their work has long been a critical part of waste management, disposal, and recycling.