Severino Lima Junior is a grassroots waste picker from Natal, Brazil, whose journey began in his teenage years working in the city’s old dumpsite. He went on to co-found key organizations such as ASCAMAR and COOCAMAR, pioneering door-to-door selective waste collection in his municipality. As a central figure in the Brazilian waste picker movement, he contributed to the founding of the National Movement of Waste Pickers (MNCR) in 2001 and later to UNICATADORES, the National Union of Waste Pickers of Brazil. His leadership has also extended regionally through the co-creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Waste Pickers (Red LACRE), connecting movements across multiple countries.
In his role as President of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP), Severino represents waste pickers at the highest levels of global policy-making. He has actively participated in the UN plastics treaty negotiations (INC processes), including INC-3 and INC-4, as part of the official Brazilian delegation. He has also engaged with the International Labour Organization and allied global worker networks to advance the vision of a just transition and a solidarity-based circular economy. His work includes coordinating waste pickers’ participation in major international forums such as COP30, strengthening their political voice, and advocating for their recognition, inclusion, and rights within global environmental governance.
