The Role of the Recycling Cooperatives in Reverse Logistics

The aim of this research is to verify the social and economic characteristics of the cooperatives through the Social Business Model Canvas and what are the benefits to the reverse logistics of the agreement between cooperatives and companies and associations of manufacturers. The qualitative approach will be used in this research, and the method to be employed is the multiple case study, where more than one object of study will be considered, with an exploratory and descriptive character. The objectives were achieved, the reverse logistics productive chain of a recycling cooperative can be mapped. The main social characteristics are to perform the correct waste disposal for large generators; cleaning, correct disposal, collection and sorting of garbage for the municipalities and income, work, education, rescue of citizenship and self-esteem for the members. The economic characteristics are that the cooperatives have agreements or partnerships with the prefectures that provide sheds, trucks for collections, water and light; the main source of revenue is the sale of recyclable material; providing services to large generators is another source of revenue and partnerships are important for cooperatives.