Ciclo Orgânico

Pessoas, Bicicletas, Baldes e Composteiras: Transformando o que antes era lixo em fonte de vida

Creating Sustainable Composting Systems That Process Tons of Organic Waste Daily

The city of Rio de Janeiro produces 11,000 tons of waste per day, which is then taken to landfills such as Seropédicam, a site located 40 kilometers from the city. This solution is costly and unsustainable, and ends up transferring the burden of waste management to the poor and remote communities. Another serious problem facing the city is food insecurity due to food being produced in distant places, leading to higher food prices and greater waste.

Ciclo Orgânico uses composting, a biological process that turns organic waste into an agricultural material that is rich in nutrients, to reduce waste and to produce healthier foods. The project collects the organic waste by bike, and in return participants receive a seedling at the end of each month, or they can donate the compost product to an organic farmer.

With support from BrazilFoundation Ciclo Orgânico will:

• Collect and treat the waste generated by 450 families (9 tons/month), create 9 delivery points in different districts and implement two new composting courtyards;
• Implement a seedling nursery with production capacity of 400 seedlings / month;
• Formalize partnerships with parks, schools, condominiums and public spaces to reduce food transportation costs;
• Organize workshops on composting, gardening, permaculture and bio-construction.

Impact

9 tons of waste collected and recycled monthly
450 families composting
Sustainable use of organic waste

“We envision a community where waste is seen as a resource…and instead of a problem, it is seen as a solution.” – Luke Chiabi, founder, Ciclo Orgânico