ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on research on participatory democracy and state responsiveness in the context of informal recyclers in Brazil. It traces the genesis, achievements and challenges, as well as the key enabling conditions of a multi-stakeholder forum, the National Waste & Citizenship Forum, which shaped inclusive policies in solid waste management. It critically addresses which lessons can be drawn to inform the debates around state transformations and governance, in the context of growing concerns about sustainability and claims for social justice. Key examples show how, through participatory platforms, informal waste pickers were able to re-signify how they were perceived (recognition) and created a channel for dialogue with government in which to represent their demands. Participation in this forum translated itself into effective changes in solid waste management (better governance) and poverty reduction (redistribution).
