Fortaleza City Hall
The Pitch
Fortaleza City Hall and Fortaleza Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation (CITINOVA)—in collaboration with the Fortaleza Innovation Laboratory (LABIFOR) and the Municipal Department of Conservation and Public Services—implemented Re-Ciclo: a holistic recycling program that combines door-to-door recycling collection via e-tricycle with better wages and working conditions for waste pickers.
The Problem
Overflowing landfills, low recycling rates, poor working conditions and stigmatization of informal workers created an unsustainable, polluting and dangerous waste management system.
The Process
- Renovated local collection points to accommodate the collection, sorting and distribution of materials brought in by recycling associations
- Held focus groups with the waste picker associations to understand their challenges
- Incorporated the demands and experiences of waste pickers, making the decision-making process more inclusive
- Piloted a collection model that spanned 11 neighborhoods and collected 380 tons of recyclable material
- Implemented technology to collect data about waste monitoring—shifting procurement practices, establishing partnerships with the private sector, and involving startups in the development and execution of the project
- Launched the E-Catador program, formalizing waste picker association workers as municipal workers, and allowing them to receive city benefits and personal protective equipment
The Impact
- Processed 950 tons of recycling
- Improved income for waste pickers by 500%, enabling them to have better-quality meals, provide a higher quality of life for their children and contribute to the circular economy; they received a fixed income, which included daily work allowances, food and transportation assistance, in addition to a variable income derived from the sale of collected recyclable materials and bonuses
- Influenced the expansion of the city’s robust cycling network by 541%, better connecting residents to recycling centers and other amenities
- Established 90 drop-off points for residents
- Inspired action across the country: With Re-Ciclo's coverage in local and national media, the initiative inspired other cities within and beyond Ceará to strengthen their waste collection efforts
- Attracted the interest of delegations from various countries who visited the project to closely observe its implementation
- Expanded cycling infrastructure, enhancing the safety of the waste pickers and benefiting cyclists throughout the city
- Established recycling targets and better supported those working in waste management through specific legislation like the E-Catador and Mais Fortaleza programs
