Cooperativism and recycling of solid wastes: a reflection based on group psychoanalysis

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on an intervention in community psychology in a cooperative recycling of solid wastes. The intervention was part of a broader project that involved the engineering, administration and pro-rectory of community. The psychology intervention consisted of individual interviews, psychosocial support to members, execution of an operative group involving all cooperates and monitoring of the general assembly of the cooperative. The operative group had intended to address difficulties experienced in daily work life of the group in question. We performed the analysis of this intervention utilizing as theoretical framework the psychoanalysis of groups. We hypothesize that the significant "garbage" could working as a psychic group organizer. There would be an oscillation in the group between the representation of garbage (useless, dirty, undesirable) and the representation of the solid wastes and recyclable materials (usefull resource, environmental care, ecology). Such hypothesis led us to develop interventions that could, from concrete actions with the group, explicit and integrate these dissociated aspects: on one hand, the experience of large devaluation and helplessness, on the other, power of growth, organization and development.