Strengthening recycling cooperatives

One of the guidelines of Vale’s Waste Management Plan is to maximize the value of recyclable waste and direct it to recycling cooperatives located near its operational sites. In Minas Gerais, we developed a project to strengthen waste picker cooperatives and associations with the goal of increasing their resilience and capacity to receive recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard and plastics, from Vale’s mining operations. The project aimed to generate social, environmental and economic benefits.

The project involved 155 waste pickers in nine municipalities. As well as strengthening collaboration among cooperative members and expanding leadership opportunities for new projects and activities, the initiative led to significant increases in both earnings and productivity.

The results include a 25% increase in recyclable material sales and a 72% increase in average monthly revenue. Productivity also increased by 40%, along with improvements in ergonomics and quality of life for cooperative members. Each year, we direct approximately 400 metric tons of recyclable waste to waste picker cooperatives in Minas Gerais. This initiative demonstrates Vale’s commitment to sustainability and community development by promoting waste management practices that benefit both the environment and society.