Last month I posted on how catadores–people who earn their living by picking through solid waste to glean and resell recyclables–in Brazil set a positive example of how personal thrift and conscientiousness can contribute to cleaner, more sustainable communities. Read more »
15 countries took part in the cleanup event in Rio, on Tuesday, 19th of June, covering the area between Ipanema and Copacabana beach. The World Cleanup Rio+20 action combined the efforts of local communities and Rio+20 delegates to create immediate results on spot and to send out a simple message to the whole world – Let’s act now!
On Tuesday, 19th of June, an international cleanup, combining the efforts of countries’ delegations attending Rio+20 and representatives from local communities, will swipe clean an area between Rio’s most famous beaches – Copacabana and Ipanema.
Cleanup project: Limpa Brasil – 30.09.2012 (All day)
Contact: mariana.midori@limpabrasil.com
Belém
Actual number of volunteers: 12000
Amount of waste collected: 10 tons
Short overview
September 30th 2012
Belém City, in the north of Brazil
The main organizer wa Atitude Brasi
It was a really good cleanup action, one of the best we ever had in Brazil. People were really motivated, and this time we had the opportunity of doing an extensive educational work with one of the biggest markets in Belem.
Situation before the cleanup
It was and still is a very dirty city. We were especially concerned with the rivers.
Organizing
Structure. We have a team that works in all cleanups in Brazil – approximately 10 people.
The rest of team is always composed by local people. This time we had a huge help of the Brazilian Army, that was our partner.
Finance. By national and local sponsors and with public support - prefecture also gave money/material.
Partners. Prefecture - help with mobilization - access to public schools, structure, transportation of the team, logistics of garbage and logistics in general
Brazilian Army - they worked as volunteers receiving the material and weighing it
Volunteers. 12 000 people
Logistics. It was organized by Atitude Brasil
Waste
Short overview of mapping. People were invited to participate, and on the day of the action, there were 23 points around the city where people could leave their recyclable waste, from 8 am to 2pm. During the Brazilian campaign we actually encourage people to collect just recyclable waste. After the cleanup, we promote a concert to thank the volunteers.
Waste handling. Recycling
Waste types. Metal, paper, plastics but nothing was collected separately
Some lovely story from the cleanup day
This time, we decided to promote a competition among public schools one week before the cleanup. The winners would be the ones that collect more waste and the one that gathers more students to the cleanup day. The result was awesome! The schools got really involved, and the winners were honored during the concert.
Cleanup project: Limpa Brasil – 15.04.2012 (All day)
Santo André and Mauá
Actual number of volunteers: 4700
Amount of waste collected: 19 tons
Short overview
April 15th 2012, Sunday, is a day that will always be remembered by the citizens of Santo André and Mauá as a special day of public mobilization. Thousands of people (4,700) became “catadores” (waste pickers) for one day and picked 19 tons of recyclable waste, which were delivered to 41 flagstations around the cities.
Volunteers of all ages accepted the invitation from Limpa Brasil and gave a beautiful example of citizenship to the rest of the country. The activities developed by children on schools, such as posters, leaflets, handicraft made with recyclable waste, among others, were fundamental to the process of changing the habit of throwing garbage out of the garbage dump.
Atitude Brasil thanks all the volunteers from Santo André and Mauá for making it possible. Limpa Brasil Let’s do it!, through social and educational initiatives, intends to help people develop deep consciousness and understanding about environmental issues all over the country.
Waste handling. Recycling
Waste types. Only recyclable waste
Some lovely story from the cleanup day
Cleanup project: Limpa Brasil – 06.05.2012 (All day)
São Bernardo and Diadema
Actual number of volunteers: 5300
Amount of waste collected: 35 tons
Short overview
The cleanup action took place in two cities on the same date (6th may): São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema. The cleanup went very well, better than we had expected. In comparison with the last action, which took place in comparable cities, we have picked 16 tons more this time.
Finance. Cleanups were financed by several companies
Partners. The Scouts of São Paulo were our partners and helped receiving the material at the flagstations
Several media partners (TV, radio, journals), local and national, worked on the disclosure of the action
Local governments of both cities (prefectures) helped with the logistics of the flag-stations and picked the waste
Volunteers. 5300 people participated in the events.
As always, people of all ages participated. This time, specially motivated were those who had been trained by the prefectures. Local communities' leaders brought lots of people into the action, there was even a circle of "capoeira", which was singing songs with the theme "garbage and environment" !
Logistics. Organized by Atitude Brasil in partnership with both prefectures
Cleaned garbage points: 40
Waste handling. As we collected only recyclable waste, all of the material went to recycling cooperatives
Waste types. Only recyclables - paper, plastic and metal
