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BETANCOURT, Andrea Alejandra. Waste pickers in Bogotá : from informal practice to policy. Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2010.     Waste pickers constitute the base and most essential work force of the recycling business in Latin American cities. Waste pickers have overtaken this commercial and environmental task as a survival strategy long before the state and private entities became interested in participating in this profitable business. Waste pickers separate, collect and commercialize recyclables informally and under very precarious working conditions. In Bogotá, the waste picking population has been active in defending their rights to continue working in this business and improve their working conditions by gaining the local government's recognition and inclusion in their solid waste management policies (...)  Read the online thesis ...