In Sorocaba, Brazil, residents have observed a notable decline in selective waste collection services since December 2025, with frequencies shifting from weekly collections to bi-weekly or monthly intervals in certain neighborhoods. This change has raised concerns among local residents who rely on this service for managing their recyclable waste effectively. The two main cooperatives responsible for this service have voiced their inability to maintain regular collection schedules due to wider economic issues affecting the pricing of recyclables such as PET, metal, and cardboard.

The Cooperativa de Egressos, Familiares de Egressos e de Reeducandos de Sorocaba e Região (Coopereso) and the Cooperativa de Reciclagem de Sorocaba (Coreso) collect over 300 tons of recyclable materials each month. They serve different areas of the city, but both are encountering challenges that hinder their operational capacity. The president of one of these cooperatives characterized the current situation as a 'difficult cycle to break,' emphasizing that the financial crisis surrounding recyclables makes it hard for these organizations to fulfill their commitments to the community effectively.

The implications of this reduced collection frequency highlight not only the operational struggles of local cooperatives but also a broader environmental concern as reduced recycling efforts could lead to increased landfill waste. It stresses the need for intervention at both local and federal levels to support these cooperatives and ensure sustainability practices within the community remain intact, potentially paving the way for new initiatives or funding to revitalize the recycling sector in Sorocaba.