PARTNER CONTENT FOR DOWCHANGE HAS A NAME
Noemia, Joselino, and Bárbara. The initiative is bringing this family,
and so many others, together to lead change. Training effective
leaders is critical to success now, and to continued growth after
the initiative ends. New leadership skills are translating to stronger
relationships with government, larger contracts, elevated roles
for women, deeper bonds of trust with workers, and the ability to
lead by hands-on example rather than by command.
“ For years we’ve been looking for
this kind of model—more efficient
production, better management,
and bigger incomes.”
JAIR DO AMARAL, PRESIDENT, COOPERATIVE CRESCER
A mother whose paycheck solely supports her
family of five. A homeless man reporting to his
very first job. A newly released prisoner ready
for a chance to rebuild. Recycling for a Change
wants to change their lives—and the future of
waste management in Brazil.
Waste picker cooperatives are responsible
for sorting trash and selling it to recycling
companies. All profits from those sales are
equally divided among cooperative workers.
As cooperatives succeed or fail, so do workers,
families, and communities.
Funded by Dow, Recycling for a Change brings
improved training, equipment, administration, and
professionalism to cooperatives and workers.
The five cooperatives selected to test the program
employ 214 workers but touch at least 450 more
dependent family members. As cooperatives
professionalize, workers experience a new sense
of dignity and pride in the role they play within
the larger waste management chain. Armed with
this new mind-set, they view their job as a career
with real social value.
“ I don’t really see myself as
a waste picker. I see myself
as an environmental agent.”
TELINES BASILIO, PRESIDENT OF COOPERCAPS COOPERATIVE
Dow’s support enables two key partners to
activate the program. The start-up Boomera
focuses on improving infrastructure, process,
and waste management training. Before
introducing any changes or optimizations,
operations are carefully evaluated. Instead
of one-size-fits-all solutions, new equipment
and processes are designed to overcome each
location’s specific problems. Results are then
measured and honed to maximize progress.The nongovernmental organization (NGO)
Fundación Avina is responsible for developing
people, improving administration, and managing
projects and budgets. Its inclusive recycling
approach emphasizes waste management’s
human element and social impact. Dow is
sharing its expertise in health and sanitation
to improve working conditions and safety.The initiative also creates a better-quality
supply for production of postconsumer resin.
This provides a new, bigger sales stream
for cooperatives and connects to a circular
economy model in which plastic waste is
recycled and reused, over and over, never
reaching the environment.Leaders note that workers themselves are
the true key to success. How do they feel about
the new gains? “For the first time I see waste
as something of real value.” “I’m making my
city and my family more sustainable.”“ I’ve felt so many improvements
within ourselves, our relationships,
and the way we’re organized.”
THAIS RODRIGUES, MANAGER, COOPERATIVE CRESCERWithin months of its inception, productivity
climbed to 70 percent sales increased by up to
50 percent, and average monthly salaries rose
above minimum wage. While leaders agree that
the initial results are remarkable, potential for
much more lies ahead. As new equipment and
processes are fully implemented, production
could double. Ultimately, the program aims
to perfect the prototype and create an open-
source model that can be replicated at other
cooperatives in Brazil and across Latin America.
They call São Paulo just the first “nudge”
that will unlock the full potential of workers,
cooperatives, and communities.