Circular economy project advances in the interior of São Paulo

São Paulo, December 6, 2024 – Circular economy has been growing in the interior of the state of São Paulo. In one year, Recicla Junto, a project that utilizes Ambipar’s Circular Cities social technology, in partnership with the Intermunicipal Solid Waste Management Consortium of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (Consimares), produced 1,920 tons of recycled products. With its expansion, the initiative will be able to process 6,000 tons per year, with the potential to expand to 9,000 tons per year.
The project promotes circular economy practices in urban centers and also increases the average monthly income of recycling professionals. Collectors involved in the initiative earn 37% more than the national minimum wage (R$ 1,412.00), averaging a monthly income of R$ 1,939.83. The municipalities served by the program have approximately 624,000 inhabitants, generating 149,000 tons of urban solid waste (USW) annually. Of this total, about 26% is recyclable (glass, plastics, paper, cardboard, and metal).
The initiative, in partnership with Dow, Tetra Pak, and Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), operates in six municipalities in the interior of São Paulo: Hortolândia, Nova Odessa, Santa Bárbara D’Oeste, Capivari, Elias Fausto, and Monte Mor.
The sorting centers participating in the project undergo training and are transformed into professionally managed enterprises with greater autonomy, moving away from being simple passive material reception warehouses. As a result, the centers are prepared to offer scaled and quality services to municipalities, educate the local population on waste management, and collect from large generators.
“Our innovative structuring model and social technology, through the implementation of Social Franchises, demonstrate that it is possible to organize post-consumer waste management systems in Brazilian cities, considering the social and economic context of our country,” highlights Juliana Navea, Director of Circular Cities Operations at Ambipar.
Through Circular Cities, Ambipar applies circular economy principles in urban centers to divert materials from landfills. This action contributes to minimizing disposal and extending the lifespan of products. This work is carried out through network connections, uniting public and private investment, combined with public infrastructure policies and the operation of cooperatives, to manage and add value to recyclable waste.
Additionally, Ambipar trains and develops leaders as new recycling professionals and makes other investments that generate positive social and environmental impacts for municipalities. “This journey toward professionalization is a unique proposal for continuous improvement and provides a bold approach to promoting the circular economy in developing countries, which lack investment in public policies and basic infrastructure for sanitation and waste management,” explains Juliana Navea.

Social Technology for Circular Cities and Social Franchise
Ambipar is a pioneer in implementing the Social Franchise model in partnership with Recycling Cooperatives and Associations. The main goal is to provide operations with the best management, production, and marketing solutions in Sorting Centers, in a standardized way, ensuring that post-consumer recycling occurs more fairly, socially responsibly, with inclusive and sustainable economic growth, generating dignified income and better working conditions.

To make this model viable, the company uses its Social Technology to humanely develop and professionalize recycling workers. Through its applied methodology, it enhances behavioral skills that increase the sense of belonging, self-esteem, and emotional intelligence of these professionals. The Social Technology includes training in governance, management, entrepreneurship, conflict management, communication, people management, support networks, diversity, and inclusion. It also provides training focused on production efficiency techniques, equipment maintenance, 5S practices, and strengthens relationships with strategic partnerships, community engagement, and environmental education actions. These initiatives not only improve the efficiency of recycling cooperatives and increase income but also promote dignity and value for this professional category.

The Social Franchise also has great potential to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting decent work, fostering economic growth, and reducing inequalities.

About Ambipar
Ambipar is a Brazilian multinational and a global leader in environmental solutions, investing in and operating projects in decarbonization, circular economy, energy transition, and environmental regeneration. It operates in over 40 countries and has more than 20,000 employees. Its shares are listed on B3 (AMBP3) and the New York Stock Exchange (AMBI). To learn more, click here.

Press Information
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About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. Our global reach, asset integration, and scale, along with focused innovation, market leadership, and a commitment to sustainability, enable us to deliver profitable growth and help build a sustainable future. We operate factories in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. In 2023, the company delivered approximately $45 billion in sales. References to “Dow” and/or the “Company” mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to become the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

For more information, contact:
Oribá Agency
Fernanda Casemiro – [email protected]
Sarah Lopes – [email protected]
Tel.: (11) 94900-0753

About Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is the world leader in food processing and packaging solutions. We work closely with our customers and suppliers to provide access to safe and nutritious food for hundreds of millions of people in over 160 countries every day.
With more than 24,000 employees worldwide, we are committed to making food safe and available everywhere, and we promise to protect what’s good: food, people, and the planet.
Press Information: Néctar Comunicação Corporativa – [email protected]

About CONSIMARES
Founded 15 years ago, the Intermunicipal Solid Waste Management Consortium of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (Consimares) aims to assist municipalities in efficient waste management and recovery, as well as promote the circular economy by valuing recycling professionals.
The public consortium is made up of seven municipalities (Capivari, Elias Fausto, Hortolândia, Monte Mor, Nova Odessa, Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, and Sumaré), which together have around 1 million inhabitants. The territory produces 700 tons of waste per day.
Through the Recicla Junto project, the consortium brings together the public sector, the private sector, and the community to find intelligent solutions to expand selective collection and proper waste disposal, following the guidelines of the National Policy and Intermunicipal Solid Waste Plan.

Press Information:
Beth Soares – Journalist/Boa Prosa Comunicação
📧[email protected]
📱 (19) 97110-5606