The impact of a solidarity organization in the economic behavior of its members: a case study of Plastikan.

Abstract

Near the vicinity of big market places in Quezon City and the infamous Payatas dumpsite is a makeshift plastic recycling center called “Plastikan”. The recycling area, built and maintained by the residents and workers of Plastikan, is an example of the achievement of a people’s local movement which, although at first unorganized, had positive effects in the economic well-being of its participants. This paper lists the impacts of organizations formed through community solidarity to the economic behavior of its individual members using Plastikan as a case study. It will explain such phenomena using first the theory of institutionalism coupled with an analysis of the situation using the concept of bounded solidarity sourced from the emergence of class consciousness. It will subsequently relate such to the national level in the people’s movement for democracy and the broader struggle of urban poor communities, particularly those living at or near dumpsites.