Abstract The paper discusses views, perceptions, experiences, knowledge and behaviors related to occupational risks among recycling workers. Data collection involved field observation and two focus groups in each site. Narratives were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Findings are presented according to the following topics: economic and environmental value of recycling; aspects of employment in the cooperative system; occupational hazards; and suggestions of improvements. Municipal programs of selective collection, as implemented in most Brazilian municipalities, still need improvements to achieve their goals and objectives. We learned that organizing recycling workers in cooperatives, despite its broad acceptance as a replacement to informal garbage collection in streets and landfills, only brought small progress regarding the safety and quality of life of cooperative workers. Recycling workers noticed the existence of workplace hazards, but seemed resigned to the situation, considered them as part of the job and did not communicate their needs to supervisors. They ignored the existence of some measures to prevent hazards and sometimes even created work practices and alternatives that endangered their own health.