waste-scape
solid waste management and recycling opportunities, the urban challenge
mumbai / curitiba
CURITIBA, BRASIL
The Southern Brazilian City of Curitiba has 1.788.559
inhabitants [2006].
Curitiba is well known for innovative and integrated
strategic urban planning since the mid of the XXth century.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s the Guidelines of the Master Plan
of 1965 gave shape to the rapid physical, economic and
demographic growth and made the city an important
industrial and commercial center.
Nowadays, the strategic vision that informs the city comes
from the work of the former mayor, Jaime Lerner.
He was involved in the city's 1965 Master Plan as an
architect, and promoted and was president of the IPPUC
several years – the Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento
Urbano de Curitiba, an independent agency to supervise
and implement planning. In addition he served as the
city's mayor three times.
inhabitants [2006].
Curitiba is well known for innovative and integrated
strategic urban planning since the mid of the XXth century.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s the Guidelines of the Master Plan
of 1965 gave shape to the rapid physical, economic and
demographic growth and made the city an important
industrial and commercial center.
Nowadays, the strategic vision that informs the city comes
from the work of the former mayor, Jaime Lerner.
He was involved in the city's 1965 Master Plan as an
architect, and promoted and was president of the IPPUC
several years – the Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento
Urbano de Curitiba, an independent agency to supervise
and implement planning. In addition he served as the
city's mayor three times.
Urban reawakening
Barrios de Curitiba
01 Centro
02 São Francisco
03 Centro Cívico
04 Alto da Glória
05 Alto da Rua XV
06 Cristo Rei
07 Jardim Botânico
08 Rebouças
09 Água Verde
10 Batel
11 Bigorrilho
12 Mercês
13 Bom Retiro
14 Ahú
15 Juvevê
16 Cabral
17 Hugo Lange
18 Jardim Social
19 Tarumã
20 Capão da Imbuia
21 Cajuru
22 Jardim das Américas
23 Guabirotuba
24 Prado Velho
25 Parolin
02 São Francisco
03 Centro Cívico
04 Alto da Glória
05 Alto da Rua XV
06 Cristo Rei
07 Jardim Botânico
08 Rebouças
09 Água Verde
10 Batel
11 Bigorrilho
12 Mercês
13 Bom Retiro
14 Ahú
15 Juvevê
16 Cabral
17 Hugo Lange
18 Jardim Social
19 Tarumã
20 Capão da Imbuia
21 Cajuru
22 Jardim das Américas
23 Guabirotuba
24 Prado Velho
25 Parolin
26 Guaíra
27 Portão
28 Vila Izabel
29 Seminário
30 Campina do Siqueira
31 Vista Alegre
32 Pilarzinho
33 São Lourenço
34 Boa Vista
35 Bacacheri
36 Bairro Alto
37 Uberaba
38 Hauer
39 Fanny
40 Lindóia
41 Novo Mundo
42 Fazendinha
43 Santa Quitéria
44 Campo Comprido
45 Mossunguê
46 Santo Inácio
47 Cascatinha
48 São João
49 Taboão
50 Abranches
27 Portão
28 Vila Izabel
29 Seminário
30 Campina do Siqueira
31 Vista Alegre
32 Pilarzinho
33 São Lourenço
34 Boa Vista
35 Bacacheri
36 Bairro Alto
37 Uberaba
38 Hauer
39 Fanny
40 Lindóia
41 Novo Mundo
42 Fazendinha
43 Santa Quitéria
44 Campo Comprido
45 Mossunguê
46 Santo Inácio
47 Cascatinha
48 São João
49 Taboão
50 Abranches
50 Abranches
51 Cachoeira
52 Barreirinha
53 Santa Cândida
54 Tingüi
55 Atuba
56 Boqueirão
57 Xaxim
58 Capão Raso
59 Orleans
60 São Braz
61 Butiatuvinha
62 Lamenha Pequena
63 Santa Felicidade
64 Alto Boqueirão
65 Sítio Cercado
66 Pinheirinho
67 São Miguel
68 Augusta
69 Riviera
70 Caximba
71 Campo de Santana
72 Ganchinho
73 Umbará
74 Tatuquara
75 Cidade Industrial
51 Cachoeira
52 Barreirinha
53 Santa Cândida
54 Tingüi
55 Atuba
56 Boqueirão
57 Xaxim
58 Capão Raso
59 Orleans
60 São Braz
61 Butiatuvinha
62 Lamenha Pequena
63 Santa Felicidade
64 Alto Boqueirão
65 Sítio Cercado
66 Pinheirinho
67 São Miguel
68 Augusta
69 Riviera
70 Caximba
71 Campo de Santana
72 Ganchinho
73 Umbará
74 Tatuquara
75 Cidade Industrial
The master plan strategies covered multiple areas: transportation and urban renewal of the downtown, parks, and
flood control, and neighborhood centers and low income housing.
Curitiba is today the ecological capital of Brazil, with an improved network of parks and wooded areas, a system of
lakes that solved the problem of flooding of illegally occupied lands, and provided recreational areas to citizens.
However, it was not until the mid 80’s that the concern about ecology was introduced as an objective in the
masterplan guidelines.
During the third administration of Jaime Lerner the campaigns concerning the environment were intensified,
incorporating educational programs in schools and parks.
flood control, and neighborhood centers and low income housing.
Curitiba is today the ecological capital of Brazil, with an improved network of parks and wooded areas, a system of
lakes that solved the problem of flooding of illegally occupied lands, and provided recreational areas to citizens.
However, it was not until the mid 80’s that the concern about ecology was introduced as an objective in the
masterplan guidelines.
During the third administration of Jaime Lerner the campaigns concerning the environment were intensified,
incorporating educational programs in schools and parks.
| In the early 80`s the expansion of the city due to the economic growth was developed by a thick belt of favelas [Brazilian term for slums] placed in the flood plains and the most peripheral areas. The lack of waste collection in those areas lead people to dispose trash in the water bodies and the open field, causing health and environmental problems. The city could not face the relocation of all these settlements, instead the authorities decided to upgrade the services in those areas. The city started testing different initiatives to fight against the pollution of both soil and water that the lack of services in the fast growing informal settlements was producing. |
The ‘Garbage Purchase and Green
Exchange program’ was one of the most
successful programs.
Exchange program’ was one of the most
successful programs.
Waste collection
Different initiatives appeared:
- ‘All clean’ [temporary street cleaning jobs for the
unemployed]
- ‘Citizen Cart ‘ [ a waste paper collection program ].
In 1984 the city had contracted the garbage collection to a
private company, and during the next two years the control
over water pollution and garbage increased, specially
attaining the Industrial City.
The Secretary of Environmental Health appears in 1991
with plans to built a new waste disposal site, and the Free
University of the Environment opens that same year.
In 1992 separated septic tanks for hospital waste are
established.
The success came from major consensus: the political will,
the involvement of private corporations in public initiatives,
the attention to the implementation, and the ability to
engage population in the process.
The consequences of all these multiple efforts had a clear
implication in the reduction of children mortality apart from
other environmental improvements.
- ‘All clean’ [temporary street cleaning jobs for the
unemployed]
- ‘Citizen Cart ‘ [ a waste paper collection program ].
In 1984 the city had contracted the garbage collection to a
private company, and during the next two years the control
over water pollution and garbage increased, specially
attaining the Industrial City.
The Secretary of Environmental Health appears in 1991
with plans to built a new waste disposal site, and the Free
University of the Environment opens that same year.
In 1992 separated septic tanks for hospital waste are
established.
The success came from major consensus: the political will,
the involvement of private corporations in public initiatives,
the attention to the implementation, and the ability to
engage population in the process.
The consequences of all these multiple efforts had a clear
implication in the reduction of children mortality apart from
other environmental improvements.
The trash was collected in slum and other
inaccessible areas by trucks.
Different points for collection were designated, and
in exchange of the trash the population received
transportation tokens.
The measure was key allowing more choice for the
population when accessing the job market: for no
extra cost they could travel efficiently to distant
locations.
For the city budget it meant no extra cost: the travel
companies were paid by distance covered, not by
passenger.
The program involved an average of 10000 families
annually only between 1989 and1992 and focused
on social inclusion, benefiting both people and the
environment.
inaccessible areas by trucks.
Different points for collection were designated, and
in exchange of the trash the population received
transportation tokens.
The measure was key allowing more choice for the
population when accessing the job market: for no
extra cost they could travel efficiently to distant
locations.
For the city budget it meant no extra cost: the travel
companies were paid by distance covered, not by
passenger.
The program involved an average of 10000 families
annually only between 1989 and1992 and focused
on social inclusion, benefiting both people and the
environment.
Recycling initiatives
Other important initiative was the campaign
‘Garbage that isn’t garbage’ inaugurated in 1989.
It was a multiple effort to educate population on the
separation of various types of waste.
The authorities targeted children in the endeavor by
introducing different activities in schools for them to learn
the importance of recycling: they collected plastic items
and get in change recycled toys and school supplies made
of recycled materials.
The program was also widely marketed through
commercials.
Around 70% of the households in the city participated in
the separation, collection and final recycling of waste.
Once a week, a truck collects paper, cardboard, metal,
plastic and glass already sorted in the city's homes.
‘Garbage that isn’t garbage’ inaugurated in 1989.
It was a multiple effort to educate population on the
separation of various types of waste.
The authorities targeted children in the endeavor by
introducing different activities in schools for them to learn
the importance of recycling: they collected plastic items
and get in change recycled toys and school supplies made
of recycled materials.
The program was also widely marketed through
commercials.
Around 70% of the households in the city participated in
the separation, collection and final recycling of waste.
Once a week, a truck collects paper, cardboard, metal,
plastic and glass already sorted in the city's homes.
The ‘food for garbage exchange program’ was
launched in 1991 by the city to address the needs of
the poorest during the declining economical cycle.
Supplies of food were bought by the city from
nearby growers at very low prices and then offered in
change of garbage.
In addition, the population of the favelas was
collecting and segregating different types of waste
to sell them to companies that were offering extra
money for those materials.
The City Civil Engineer was concerned about the
amount of waste going to the landfill and the rapid
growth of the city, so the city started an ambitious
recycling program that covered the whole
population to increase the landfill life for 20-30%.
launched in 1991 by the city to address the needs of
the poorest during the declining economical cycle.
Supplies of food were bought by the city from
nearby growers at very low prices and then offered in
change of garbage.
In addition, the population of the favelas was
collecting and segregating different types of waste
to sell them to companies that were offering extra
money for those materials.
The City Civil Engineer was concerned about the
amount of waste going to the landfill and the rapid
growth of the city, so the city started an ambitious
recycling program that covered the whole
population to increase the landfill life for 20-30%.
The need of a recycling plant to process all the materials collected and separate the recyclable materials
came next.
The station of separation and valorization of waste opened in 1989, using a small facility in a municipal owned
land as centre for operation.
The station has class and conference rooms, library, playground, museum, and a collection of art and objects
built with material collected.
came next.
The station of separation and valorization of waste opened in 1989, using a small facility in a municipal owned
land as centre for operation.
The station has class and conference rooms, library, playground, museum, and a collection of art and objects
built with material collected.
The partnerships between the government and private companies made the program self-sufficient.
Today the sell of recyclable materials covers the cost of the plant operation and also funds several social programs
educating the workers.
Half of the people working there is under special programs of rehabilitation, and 40% are literate; they all receive
education so that they can compete on the job market when they leave the station.
Today the sell of recyclable materials covers the cost of the plant operation and also funds several social programs
educating the workers.
Half of the people working there is under special programs of rehabilitation, and 40% are literate; they all receive
education so that they can compete on the job market when they leave the station.
They have discover creative ways of using recycled materials:
-styrofoam for stacking,
-plastic bags for railroad tiles,
-tooth paste tubes for roof materials
-recycled computers for teaching computer science
to workers,
-old tires for new ones or as separate material,
-recycled wood changed by bricks later donated for
the construction of houses for the poor, and so on.
-plastic bags for railroad tiles,
-tooth paste tubes for roof materials
-recycled computers for teaching computer science
to workers,
-old tires for new ones or as separate material,
-recycled wood changed by bricks later donated for
the construction of houses for the poor, and so on.
Some companies started to buy separated trash
directly from people creating a network of
informal work that gathers 80% of the recyclables
of the city and occupies people that otherwise
cannot access the job market due to their lack of
education.
They are called cabihneiros, and it is estimated
they can reach monthly twice the Brazilian
minimum salary.
Their work reduce the amount of trucks and other
installations needed for collection and disposal of
waste in the city.
Saving in this equipment and their maintenance
allows the municipality to re invest this money in
other social programs.
directly from people creating a network of
informal work that gathers 80% of the recyclables
of the city and occupies people that otherwise
cannot access the job market due to their lack of
education.
They are called cabihneiros, and it is estimated
they can reach monthly twice the Brazilian
minimum salary.
Their work reduce the amount of trucks and other
installations needed for collection and disposal of
waste in the city.
Saving in this equipment and their maintenance
allows the municipality to re invest this money in
other social programs.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Source of images:
[1] Satellite image
[2] Barrios de Curitiba. 209.35.123.177/americas/m_curitiba_bairro.gif
[3-26] ‘A convenient truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba’. DVD
[1] Satellite image
[2] Barrios de Curitiba. 209.35.123.177/americas/m_curitiba_bairro.gif
[3-26] ‘A convenient truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba’. DVD