At 15 years old, Consimares highlights advances in integrated waste management

President of Consimares, Mauricio Baroni, celebrates the 15th anniversary of Consimares with mayors.

RMC public consortium enters adolescence with grand projects for recycling and proper disposal of urban ‘waste’, including the Treatment Center, a sanitation project that will generate electricity

Beth Soares | Tribuna Liberal

Consimares (Intermunicipal Consortium for Solid Waste Management of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas) celebrates 15 years since its founding with significant advances in integrated management for proper disposal of solid waste. This adolescent, with grand projects and adult responsibilities, helps seven municipalities (Capivari, Elias Fausto, Hortolândia, Monte Mor, Nova Odessa, Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, and Sumaré) manage and efficiently handle nearly 700 tons of daily waste produced in the territory of 1 million inhabitants. To celebrate the occasion, Consimares president and Elias Fausto mayor, Mauricio Baroni, gathered consorted mayors, managers, and technicians at the Consortium headquarters last Monday (22/01).

The main challenges now are expanding selective collection in the consorted municipalities and implementing the Consimares Waste Treatment Center, a sanitation project that will generate electricity through the recovery of non-recyclable waste, says Baroni. Recently, the project received international certification from the European Union for low carbon emissions and promotion of the circular economy, for following the most efficient sustainability standards in the world. The venture also garnered support from the federal government for its viability.

“In 2009, a group of mayors planted a seed of hope in search of solutions for proper waste disposal as an alternative to landfills. This seed was cultivated, took root, grew leaves and flowers, and we are reaping many fruits. Today, Consimares celebrates 15 years since its founding, on the verge of implementing new technology for final waste disposal, valuing recycling professionals, and transforming non-reusable materials into electricity. This progress was only possible thanks to the union of all the mayors who have been part of this major project of waste care, environmental respect, and life preservation. I am grateful to be part of this story,” commented the Consimares president.

To assist the consorted municipalities in expanding selective collection, the Consortium has partnered with the Ambipar Viraser project to foster the formation of professionally managed recycling cooperatives. According to the Consortium’s superintendent, Mimo Ravagnani, the goal is to create a network of 16 cooperatives.

“The union of municipalities is very important in this project, which not only facilitates the implementation of selective collection in the municipalities but also encourages the generation of dignified work and income for recycling professionals, a requirement of Planares – National Solid Waste Plan. We have made significant progress in solid waste management over these 15 years, but we need to advance further, and quickly, to implement this cooperative network by 2032. This is a major task for the municipalities,” notes Ravagnani.

The formation of a network of recycling cooperatives and the implementation of the Waste Treatment Center are part of the Recicla Junto Consimares Program, launched last year, which encompasses the Consortium’s priority actions for efficient solid waste management. The program also includes an organic waste composting project and a Mobile Plant for RCC (Construction and Demolition Waste) reuse.

TRANSPARENCY

In addition to advances in waste disposal projects in the region, Consimares reaches 15 years with exemplary performance in the Consortium’s financial management. “We have never had an account rejected by the Court of Accounts since Consimares was founded, 14 years ago. We follow the Court of Accounts’ rules and comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Law, with total respect for public money. Our work and actions are well managed and monitored by an active council that oversees everything and plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency throughout the process,” observes economist Fabio Orsi, Consimares executive secretary.

A SUCCESS STORY BUILT BY MANY HANDS

Founded on January 22, 2009, Consimares was created out of the municipalities’ concern for the final disposal of solid waste and the need for new technology for waste treatment and recovery, which is currently taken to landfills.

Former Hortolândia mayor, Angelo Perugini – who died from Covid-19 in April 2021 – helped found Consimares alongside then-mayors Antonio Bacchim (Sumaré); Diego De Nadai (Americana); Mário Heins (Santa Bárbara d’Oeste); Manoel Sanmartin (Nova Odessa); and Rodrigo Maia (Monte Mor).

The Consortium’s mission, a reference in Brazil, is to produce regulations and administrative arrangements for the development of its activities, with a focus on the socioeconomic and environmental inclusion of recyclable material collectors.

Over these 15 years, Consimares has become an important support and guidance tool for municipalities. With the backing of the laws and goals that guide Planares (National Solid Waste Plan), the Consortium created its own Integrated Waste Management Plan, which guides and establishes short, medium, and long-term actions for municipalities to properly dispose of waste, implement selective collection, and stop disposing of recyclable materials in landfills.

Currently, the Consortium is chaired by Elias Fausto mayor, Mauricio Baroni. The board of directors is composed of Sumaré mayor, Luiz Dalben (vice-president), Capivari mayor Vitor Hugo Riccomini (general treasurer), Monte Mor mayor Edivaldo Brischi (deputy treasurer), Santa Bárbara d’Oeste mayor Rafael Piovezan (general secretary), and Nova Odessa mayor Claudio José Schooder (deputy secretary).

MAYORS RECOGNIZE THE CONSORTIUM’S IMPORTANCE IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

“Fifteen years of Consimares, a consortium that is an example for Brazil. Thank God we have a great president, Mauricio Baroni, mayors, councilors… who make up this consortium that is so important not only for our region, not only for our cities, but an example for the world. Congratulations to Mauricio and his entire team. God bless. May this be a humble celebration of many more to come.”

Luiz Dalben, mayor of Sumaré and vice-president of Consimares

“Solid waste management has always been a fundamental issue for the development of Capivari. Bruno (our deputy mayor) and I constantly align strategies and alternatives to ensure that this issue has the most viable solution to always guarantee the well-being of the population, and we will certainly continue to address this topic.”

Vitor Hugo Riccomini, mayor of Capivari

“Sharing the pains and, together, benefiting from the power of healing. This is how I see the importance of Consimares’ (Intermunicipal Consortium for Solid Waste Management) work in addressing the demands posed by the challenge of proper waste disposal in these seven cities in our region. In 15 years of operation, we have become a national reference in solid waste management. Every day, we realize that by joining hands, problems become smaller, and our region grows in quality of life and care for people and the environment. Long live our Consimares.”

José Nazareno Zezé Gomes, mayor of Hortolândia

“The integrated urban solid waste management of Consimares extends benefits and improvements to the environment and the population. As the mayor of Monte Mor, I understand and believe that joint efforts strengthen the recycling chain and promote a humane and sustainable approach throughout the region. It also contributes to fostering the green economy in municipalities. Congratulations to Consimares for the achievements and to everyone involved in this effort to improve and advance solid waste and environmental issues.”

Edivaldo Brischi, mayor of Monte Mor

“I was a councilor when Consimares was created, still under the administration of former mayor Manoel Sanmartin, a pioneering consortium in an area I have always defended, which is the Environment and Basic Sanitation. It is gratifying to see that Consimares, in 15 years of existence, has gained new cities, developed important projects and partnerships, studies that municipalities use in their planning, and national and international recognition. This is the result of the work that the consortium develops together with seven cities. I am very happy because the plant will be built in Nova Odessa, and who would have thought, 30 years ago, that a plant would transform domestic waste into energy, and today we see this work in development.”

Cláudio José Schooder, the Leitinho, mayor of Nova Odessa

“In these 15 years, Consimares has played an important role in the region in seeking projects and resources for the proper disposal of solid waste, contributing to environmental preservation. I congratulate the entire team and the mayors of the cities that are part of this project.”

Rafael Piovezan, mayor of Santa Bárbara d’Oeste

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