Newsletter 5 - Participatory Sustainable Waste Management

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PSWM Newsletter
PSWM
PO BOX 3050 STN CSC
Victoria, BC
V8W 3P5, Canada
Tel: 250-472-4537
Fax: 25-721-6216
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Organic waste collection (p.1)
2. Capacity-buildng in IT (p.3)
3. MOTHERS pilot project (p. 5)
4. ‘Out of the Ashes’ Fundraiser
for Coopercose in Brazil (p. 8)
5. Tragedia em Perus (p. 9)
The Collection and Re-use of Organic
Waste for Urban Agriculture in Diadema
which falls below the WHO recommendation of 146 Kg of F&V
intake per capita per year. Due to
problems of transportation, storage, and a lack of access to local
sources of F&V, the urban poor
suffer the most from this lack of
access. The low-income urban
population also faces a multitude
of health problems, such as the
contamination of land and water
supplies by untreated waste. During the Brazilian winter months
of 2008 (July - September), community-based research laboratory member Julian Yates carried
out research into an innovative
waste management model capable of reducing poverty, food
Photo: Gardener at horta Fundação
insecurity, and providing a better
Casa (trabalhadores de horta Fundação
use of the waste generated in DiCasa). J. Yates, 2008.
adema.
iadema is an exclusively urparticipatory pilot project
ban municipality within the
was carried out in Diadema,
metropolitan region of São Pau- in which organic waste was collo in Brazil. With over 350 thou- lected on a door-to-door basis
sand inhabitants, the city has an by the recycler’s association Vida
extremely high population den- Limpa, and transported to a local
sity of approximately 11,600 per community garden for processkm2. The slums that occupy 3.5
% of the municipality are home
• The low-income households
to 23 % of the city’s population.
in these areas spend 50 – 80
The low-income households in
% of their disposable income
these areas spend 50 – 80 % of
on food and still do not meet
their disposable income on food
their daily dietary requireand still do not meet their daily
ments.
dietary requirements. In particular, the urban poor do not have • innovative waste management model capable of resufficient access to fresh fruit
ducing poverty, food insecuand vegetable (F&V). Research
rity, and providing a better
has shown that Brazil as a whole
use of the waste generated in
only consumes approximately
Diadema.
125 kg of F&V per capita per year,
D
A
RESOURCE RECOVERY FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
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o date, there are very few
places in the world where
such an integrated waste management model has been successfully implemented. The pilot
project revealed the possibility
of closing the nutrient loop in urban areas; the valuable nutrients
in discarded food are not wasted
in over-flowing landfill sites, but
are returned to local soils for
cultivating fresh fruit and vegetables – a valuable and often
inaccessible resource for the urban poor. The produce from the
garden is currently distributed
among households that contribute material as well as to the local youth rehabilitation centre.
Plans are being developed to
include the local school, for both
collection and distribution, in the
future expansion of the project.
Photo: Gardener
at horta Jardim
Inamar (trabalhadores de horta
Jardim Inamar). J.
Yates, 2008.
Photo: Horta Santa
Elizabeth. J. Yates,
2008.
T
he pilot enhanced the knowledge held by local residents,
the recycler’s association, and
the gardeners in terms of reutilizing valuable nutrients. It also
served to bring these stakeholders together to work towards a
common goal of improved environmental health and food supply, while also placing local food
supply on the political agenda.
Indeed, the local government
was committed to the pilot project and is working towards an
official agreement to support
the door-to-door collection of
organic waste.
J
ulian Yates, CBRL
Photo: Members of
the recycler’s association Vida Limpa,
2008. J.Yates
• “The pilot project revealed the possibility of closing the nutrient loop in
urban areas; the valuable nutrients in
discarded food are not wasted in overflowing landfill sites, but are returned
to local soils for cultivating fresh fruit
and vegetables”.
PSWM Newsletter
RESOURCE RECOVERY FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
T
Photo: Recyclers participating in the computer
training course. C.Varjao.
D
uring the months of August to October 2008, the Brazilian MA student Clecio
Varjão, traveled to Brazil to conduct fieldwork and community outreach activities.
The majority of the recyclers who work in the metropolitan region of São Paulo does
not have access to computers and are digitally excluded. Clecio provided a workshop
where introducing basic computer skills to a group of recyclers, who are involved with
the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management project. His goal was to train the
recyclers so that they would become more autonomous in the digital world and could
then benefit from using the computer in the administration of the recycling coop network. It was an amazing experience for this computer science graduate student, to be
able to work with the recyclers and to also have a chance to contribute, and give something back to society. This activity was part of the PSWM project, funded by the Canadian International Aid Agency (CIDA) and hosted in the Community-based Research
Laboratory in the Department of Geography at UVic. Clecio is also working on the development of a global waste database, where data regarding all aspects of waste such
as the generation, storage, recycling, policy etc. will be analyzed and disseminated.
C
lecio Varjão, CBRL
• “...to train the recyclers so that they would become more autonomous
in the digital world and could then benefit from using the computer in
the administration of the recycling coop network”.
DIGITAL INCLUSION
PSWM Newsletter
Digital Inclusion for solid waste recyclers in the
metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil
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Curso de Informática no Brasil.
O
N
curso teve duração de um mês e meio, sendo um total de 13 aulas.
o início haviam poucos alunos, sendo que no primeiro dia somente uma catadora
compareceu, mas durante o curso todo passaram pelas aulas 12 catadores e catadoras das diferentes regiões que o projeto abrange, deste total, 9 pessoas concluíram
o curso.
a avaliação das pessoas que concluíram, o curso foi muito bom, e foi concenso
entre todos e todas que é necessário mais tempo de curso para aperfeiçoar o
uso da Internet e aprender mais sobre planilhas no Excel e sobre o Sistema de Gerenciamento Participativo. Na opinião de Maria da Penha, catadora da Cooperma, em
Mauá, “Uma coisa tão simples que era montar planilha no excel, parecia tão complicado antes deste curso”, e completa Dorinha, catadora da Cooperpires, “Eu nunca havia
mexido em um computador”. Já Joana Darc, catadora da Cooperpires e secretária da
Cooperativa de 2º Grau do ABC (CoopCent), disse que o curso vai ajudar muito com o
controle no trabalho.
N
Foto: Curso de
informatica.
C.Varjão.
“Uma coisa tão simples que era montar planilha no
excel, parecia tão complicado antes deste curso” ~Maria da Penha, catadora da Cooperma
“Eu nunca havia mexido em um computador”.
~Dorinha, catadora da Cooperpires,
PSWM Newsletter
Photo above: Press conference for MOTHERS
project at OurPlace, Victoria, BC. J.Gutberlet.
Photo right: Project participant demonstartes
tent trailer, November 2007. J.Gutberlet.
A
ccording to the 2007 Homeless Needs Survey, there are nearly 1200 homeless
people in Greater Victoria, and although some shelter space is available, there
is an urgent need to address immediate emergency shelter. A significant number of
Victoria’s street community engages in binning, the collection of recyclables from the
urban environment including industrial and city garbage bins for their livelihood. In
2007, the Communities-based Research Laboratory (CBRL) at the University of Victoria conducted participatory-based research with the binning community in Victoria,
interviewing 156 binners, of which 63% were homeless (for the full research report
please visit www.cbrl.uvic.ca). Binning provides an important income source and it
also contributes to improving environmental health through resource recovery.
T
ypically binners transport recovered materials in shopping carts, which is not a
proper solution for the binners themselves, for business or the wider community.
Shopping carts also generate significant noise in residential areas creating a negative
public image and hence re-enforcing the marginalization of this population. There are
alternative solutions to this problem such as the Urban Binning Unit, a cart designed
specifically for binning (for more information see www.urbanbinningunit.com). Providing binners with adequate infrastructure and a support network dignifies their
work and provides economic opportunities.
T
he MOTHERS project aims to empower and improve the quality of life of binners by
providing 4 specially-designed bicycles and tent-trailers that will facilitate income
generation opportunities. Tony’s Trailers (www.tonystrailers.com) has already made a
few custom-designed bicycles available to a number of homeless people in Victoria,
many of who now use them to generate income through binning. Each bicycle includes a trailer that converts into one-person tent that allows discrete, mobile shelter
from the elements. Preliminary responses from those currently using these trailers
confirm a significant improvement to the overall health, income and quality of their
lives.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND PARTICIPATORY VIDEO
PSWM Newsletter
The MOTHERS Pilot Project: Social enterprise and
Participatory Video with binners in Victoria, BC.
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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND PARTICIPATORY VIDEO
his project is part of an on-going CBRL research initiative on Participatory Video
(PV), funded by the International Development Research Council (IDRC), in which
10 binners have been trained in storyboard development, conducting interviews and
video/editing technology. Similar research has been conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil
in the spring 2008 with recycling cooperatives participating in the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management (PSWM) project (www.pswm.uvic.ca), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and headed by Dr. Jutta Gutberlet,
director of the CBRL.
Photo above left:: Project participants conduct video interviews in the park downtown Victoria. J. Gutberlet.
Photo above right: Project participants produce a video on “a day in the life of a binner” at the bottle depot.
T
his participatory project aims to build the capacity and empowerment of binners,
providing an opportunity to voice their opinions and experiences on issues that
are important to them. The videos will also be used to evaluate and showcase the
MOTHERS cart initiative as an innovative response to homelessness and poverty in
Victoria.
his project is in collaboration with the Committee to End Homelessness, VIPIRG,
MediaNet, Tony’s Traylors, and the CBRL, funded by VanCity and IDRC. For more
information please contact Dr. Jutta Gutberlet at [email protected] or Crystal Tremblay at
[email protected].
T
Welcome MA Student Neil Nunn to the CBRL
N
eil earned a bachelor of arts degree,in 2008, in the discipline of Geography from Simon Fraser University and
is currently working on a masters of arts degree from the
University of Victoria. He is primarily interested in the spatial social inequalities, and most recently has been intrigued
by gender disparities which occur within our society and
will be working with PSWM to explore the gender dynamics
which shape the nature of the informal waste management
sector in Sao Paulo Brazil. Neil’s community based activist
work ranges from work on gender focussed development
projects in Ghana (2007), to Action Research (PAR) with local British Columbian NGO’s such as, the Rivershed Society
of British Columbia, and 20/20 Vision (2006/2007).
PSWM Newsletter
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Coopercose coop destroyed by fire in São Paulo.
COOPERCOSE COOPERATIVE
PSWM Newsletter
O
n 14th of September, the recycling cooperative ‘Coopercose’, in Sao Paulo Brazil
suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the building and equipment necessary
for this community initiative to operate. Coopercose plays a vital role in community
waste management through resource recovery and recycling and the promotion of
environmental health in Perus, a sub-municipality of Sao Paulo. Over 20 people work
here, and th According to the 2007 Homeless Needs Survey, there are nearly 1200
homeless people in Greater Victoria, and although some shelter space is available,
there is an urgent need to address immediate emergency shelter. A significant number
of Victoria’s street community engages in binning, the collection of recyclables from
the urban environment including industrial and city garbage bins for their livelihood.
In 2007, the Communities-based Research Laboratory (CBRL) at the University of Victoria conducted participatory-based research with the binning community in Victoria,
interviewing 156 binners, of which 63% were homeless (for the full research report
please visit www.cbrl.uvic.ca). Binning provides an important income source and it
also contributes to improving environmental health through resource recovery.
Top photos: Cooperative members seperate material at Coopercose before the fire. R. Takahashi, 2008.
Bottom photos: The fire destroyed the infrastructure and equipment of Coopercose on September 14th,
2008. R. Takahasi, 2008.
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‘Out of the Ashes’ Fundraiser in Victoria for Coopercose cooperative a Success
21st, 2008, The Communities-based Research Laboratory (Department
Oof Geography
at the University of Victoria) hosted a fundrasier at the Cornerstone
n November
T
he event was a huge success with over 80 people attending and raising more than
$850 CND - funds that have already gone directly to the Cooperative. These generous donations will be used to purchase a new press, an important piece of equipment
for the processing the recyclable materials. The evening consisted of three wonderful
muscial acts; a brilliant beatbox duo, an eclectic indidan-infused group and to close
the evening we enjoyed local folk-rock talent.
A
Special thanks to all our supporters, musical talent, the staff at Cornerstone Cafe,
and Wildfire bakery. We hope this is the first of many successful fundrasing events
to come.
Photos: Friends and community enjoy the music at the Cornerstone Cafe in Victoria on November 21st, to
help raise funds for Coopercose cooperative in Brazil. Photos: J.Gutberlet.
PSWM Newsletter
‘OUT OF THE ASHES FUNDRAISER’
Cafe in Fernwood (1301 Gladstone Ave.) to help raise funds to rebuild Coopercose, a
cooeprative that was recently destryed by fire.
Tragédia em Perus, Brasil.
a madrugada do dia 14 de setembro de 2008, um incêndio cuja causa ainda não
foi identificada, aconteceu na Coopercose, um posto de coleta seletiva que se
localiza em Perus, região norte de São Paulo. A cooperativa passou por um processo
de construção e estruturação conseguido durante um árduo e contínuo trabalho conjunto de 6 anos. ”Fiquei sem reação quando vi, pois nosso trabalho estava todo em
cinzas”, disse Lúcia, uma das catadoras e tesoureira da Coopercose, “Parece ainda que
é mentira”, completa Ana, outra catadora. Infelizmente, equipamentos como prensa,
empilhadeira e balança estavam todos queimados, quase inutilizados, e dos materiais
coletados e documentação só sobraram cinzas. Haviam 18 catadores e catadoras que
trabalhavam na cooperativa, no mês de agosto, porém, depois desta tragédia, todos
os homens saíram e só ficaram 12 mulheres.
avaliação dos danos foi de aproximadamente R$30.000,00 e as catadoras que ficaram sabem que não será fácil conseguir, de um dia para outro, a reconstrução da
cooperativa. Hoje elas já estão com bastante material, fruto das doações dos parceiros
da cooperativa e estão trabalhando muito na triagem, para conseguirem vender e ter
uma retirada melhor, pois, depois do incêncio, a média da retirada foi de R$150,00.
A
E
ntre elas é unânime que, o que mais elas necessitam neste momento é um espaço adequado de trabalho, pois estão trabalhando embaixo de lonas improvisadas
separando a única parte que não foi destruída pelo fogo, para conseguirem o necessário à sobrevivência, porém, o material delas está arriscado a ser perdido porque
é muito comum chover diariamente esta época do ano. Mas mesmo nessa situação
desesperadora, elas não perdem a esperança e o bom humor, sempre sorrindo, e com
muita força de vontade continuam na batalha.
tualmente elas estão necessitando muito da ajuda dos parceiros e de todos aqueles
que puderem contribuir de alguma forma, para que possam ter melhor condições
de trabalho, seja com doações de equipamentos como prensa, balança, materiais de
construção como madeiras, telhas e tijolos ou até mesmo um valor em dinheiro.
A
Foto: Catadora trabalha na cooperativa Coopercose, April 2008. C. Tremblay.
TRAGEDIA EM PERUS
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ew Publications - please check on our website for links to the articles
Gutberlet, J. (2008), The power of video documenting in action research: a case study with a
recycling co-op in Brazil. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 52: 659-670.
Gutberlet, J. (2008). Empowering collective recycling initiatives: Video documentation and action research with a recycling co-op in Brazil. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 52, 659-
670.
Gutberlet, J and Baeder, A. (2008). Informal recycling and occupational health in Santo Andre,
Brazil. International Journal of Environmental Health Research 18:1, 1-15.
Gutberlet, J. (2008). Social and environmental exclusion at the edge of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Urban
Design International 13, 3-20.
Gutberlet, J., Seixas, S., Glinfskoi, A.P. and Carolsfeld, J. (2007). Resource conflict: Challenges to
fisheries Management at the Sao Francisco River, Brazil. Human Ecology 35, 623-638.
Gutberlet, J. (2008). ‘Recovering Resources-Recycling Citizenship: Urban poverty reduction in
Latin America’. Ashgate Publishing: USA.
onferences
Graduate Student Research Conference on Latin-America and the Caribbean. York University,
November 7th-8th, 2008.
American Association of Geographers. Las Vegas, March 22-27, 2009. Geographies of Waste
and Disposal 2: Informal Recyclers and Self-Organization of Waste Workers.
Presentation by C. Tremblay: Empowerment through Participation: assessing the voices of
leaders from recycling cooperatives in São Paulo, Brazil
Presentation: J. Gutberlet, Inclusive waste management a radical approach to end poverty
and to recover environmental health.
Participatory Sustainable Waste Management
Canadian Project Director
Dr. Jutta Gutberlet
Departement of Geography
University of Victoria
P.O. Box 3050, Victoria BC, Canada
Newsletter Editors:
Dr. Jutta Gutberlet: [email protected]
Crystal Tremblay: [email protected]
CBRL Phone: 250-721-7360 (Canada)
Website: www.geog.uvic.ca/pswm
Articles writen by Dr. Jutta Gutberlet and Crystal Tremblay unless otherwise indicated.
Thank you to all our contributors!
PSWM Newsletter
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