Recycling cooperatives from Sa ̃ o Bernardo do Campo were involved in the production of a PV and had planned to be involved in the focus group discussions with the local govern- ment. Unfortunately, owing to serious lack of support, a meeting could not be organised. There is no doubt that, in this city, a very strong lobby was fighting for the approval of a waste incinerator at that time. Over the course of a year, and during this research, there had been numerous social dem- onstrations against incineration throughout Brazil. Members of the PSWM project and the MNCR were key in this organis- ation. Unfortunately, after many attempts to meet with the government, there was no support or even slight display of interest in discussing this decision with the recyclers. This goes to show that even with an ‘engaged’ and empowered commu- nity, without support from local government in creating spaces for participatory forms of planning, the power remains in the hands of the elite.