Fortaleza has an ambitious target for 2030: recycle up to 50% of trash generated in the city and can be reused. It's quite a challenge, given that the capital of Ceará currently has a recycling rate of 7%, the third best in Brazil, reports a article published in Folha de S.Paulo.
The big challenge, at the beginning, was consolidating a door-to-door selective collection operation. And the difference would be to adopt a low carbon logistics, which used non-polluting modes.
The solution found by the city hall was to form a partnership with the private sector. And so, in August 2022, the Re-cycle, a free recyclable collection platform in Fortaleza carried out with the startup SOLOS and iFood.
In this project, recyclable waste is removed from people's homes using electric tricycles, which have low carbon footprint. From there, this waste is sent to partner recycling associations.
In September 2022, Re-ciclo had already recycled 30 tons of waste with selective collection carried out in five neighborhoods. During this period, it generated R$ 48,182 in income for waste picker associations and mobilized 246 participating users.
“Scavengers are mainly responsible for selective collection in our country and continue to live below the poverty line. We must value and provide more visibility, comfort and better working conditions for collectors”, writes Haroldo Rodrigues, founding partner of impact business investor IN3 in the article.
How iFood supports recycling
Re-ciclo is supported and sponsored by iFood and is part of the Mais Fortaleza Program. The objective is that, in 12 months, door-to-door selective collection reaches five neighborhoods and removes 350 tons of waste.
In September, iFood launched, in partnership with MANUIA, the “Guide to a Model City in Waste Management and Recycling”, a publication created to guide municipalities on how they can include effective recycling actions.
The initiative was designed to support the goals of iFood Regenerates, iFood's environmental goals program that aims to eliminate plastic pollution in delivery operations and neutralize the emission of polluting gases until 2025.
Fortaleza was the first city to adhere to this waste management model, through the Re-Ciclo project, combined with the installation and maintenance of recycling bins and the registration of restaurants and establishments on the city's waterfront that were interested in participating in the project.
To download the guide in PDF, Click here.
