Cooperation and environmental education: an experimental study with recyclable material collectors

The purpose of this paper was to analyze how the public goods game can contribute to the environmental education and positively influence cooperative behavior in the recyclable material collectors.The dynamics of the Experimental methodology applied considered the fact that both for the preservation of the public good and for the work within recycling cooperatives, cooperation is a fundamental factor.In this context, in order to encourage cooperation, the role of incentives in the form of punishment and reward was also tested.The main finding was that, even without the effective application of punishments, the mere existence of the rule was enough to increase the collectors' involvement in collective well-being.This indicates that cooperation in a group does not only depend on financial incentives, but also on the responsibility perception and the rules that guide coexistence between members.The results have a direct impact on the cooperatives management and public policies related to recycling and sustainability.Approaches that promote a sense of collective responsibility and define clear rules for participation tend to be more effective compared to individual rewards, as they strengthen engagement and collaboration among workers.Furthermore, the research highlights that human behavior within groups is strongly shaped by social norms and the sense of justice present in the community.