Recicloscopio: Miradas sobre recuperadores urbanos de residuos de América Latina ed. by Pablo J. Schamber, and Francisco M. Suárez , and: Recicloscopio II: Miradas sobre recuperadores, políticas públicas y subjetividades en América Latina ed. by Francisco M. Suárez and Pablo J. Schamber, and: Recicloscopio III: Miradas sobre recuperadores urbanos, formas organizativas y circuitos de valorización de residuos en América Latina ed. by Francisco M. Suárez and Pablo J. Schamber (review)

Between 2007 and 2011 Argentinean anthropologists Francisco Suárez and Pablo Schamber edited these three volumes on recycling in Latin America and especially in Argentina. The title of the collection—Recicloscopio and the first word of the subtitle, miradas (gazes)—summarizes the open spirit of this collective work which encompasses a number of Latin American countries and a diverse array of authors and perspectives. Yet all three volumes also contain in their title the word recuperadores (literally, recuperators) to refer to the main focus of most of the papers: the people who recuperate, from the street, valuable materials. In Argentina and in other Latin American countries there are other words to refer to these people; many of them can be derogatory, such as “ciruja” in Argentina (garbage picker in English). This positive view of these people and what they do permeates these volumes and shows that a great deal has changed both in the literature and in the wider view of these activities by the societies and the states of most Latin American countries.

In all, these books contain more than forty chapters by authors who live in seven different countries. Argentinean authors account for eighty percent of the papers. Among them there are seven anthropologists, five social scientists, four ecologists, three lawyers and two engineers. There are also experts in other fields: geography, architecture, social work, natural resources and journalism. Although the emphasis on Argentina and Brazil is marked there are case studies carried out in other countries (Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Italy and Holland) and even a number of references to other continents (Asia and Africa). It is certainly difficult to summarize and assess in this review the wide scope of this interesting effort.

The gazes proposed by the authors of these volumes constitute a good sample of this general topic of enquiry around the recuperation and recycling of materials in Latin America. These volumes show that this research topic has matured and diversified perhaps at the same time that individual pickers have organized, constituted associations and began to interact with the state and its policies.

The papers contained in these books can be classified in three broad groups. Many papers discuss problems around the organization of individual recuperadores in associations and cooperatives and their relationship with the state, especially at the municipal level. As we will argue below the recuperation of materials from garbage is an activity that goes back many decades in most Latin American countries; a paradox in a continent rich in raw materials. Yet, until the recent past, recuperators were people who tended to work and saw themselves as individuals, not as an organized group. This has changed, at least for many of these people in most countries, and these volumes show in a detailed manner the characteristics of this process.

Volume three contains...