Belém unveils its first public composting system, operated by waste pickers

The opening is set for Sunday, November 9. The mechanized unit can process up to 180 tons per month and will leave a legacy for the city after COP30

The capital of Pará, Belém, will inaugurate its first public composting unit for organic waste implemented by the Instituto Pólis, on November 9 at 9:30 a.m., in partnership with the Global Methane Hub (GMH), the Office of the Chief of Staff (Casa Civil) of the Presidency, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima/MMA), the Municipality of Belém (through SEZEL – Municipal Secretariat of Urban Maintenance and Conservation), and the State Government (through SEMAS and SEBRAE).

During the inauguration ceremony, held at the headquarters of the CONCAVES Cooperative of Recyclable Material Collectors, participants will take part in a guided tour of the new composting unit, including an exhibition and live demonstration of the rotary drum technology. The event will be attended by representatives of the National Movement of Recyclable Material Collectors (Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis/MNCR), the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP), Belém’s mayor, Mr. Igor Wender, and international environmental organizations.

The composting center will utilize mechanized rotary drum technology, capable of processing 150 tons of food waste per month, reaching up to 180 tons when including pruning and leaf waste. Installed in advance of COP30, the first UN Climate Conference to be held in the Amazon, the facility reinforces Belém’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring the proper management of organic waste.

In addition to meeting the demand from COP30—which is expected to generate around 13 tons of organic waste per day during the 12-day event — the initiative aims to integrate waste picker cooperatives into the municipal collection system, promoting proper waste management. The center will be operated by waste pickers from the Redes Recicla Pará and Rede Central da Amazônia, underscoring their central role in the circular economy and climate agenda. The compost produced will be primarily distributed to family farmers, closing the loop on waste reuse and generating additional income for the collectors.

The goal of the initiative is to strengthen organic waste recycling and consolidate composting as a long-term solution for the city, in line with public policies for urban solid waste (USW) management. By diverting organic waste from landfills, the unit will avoid methane emissions, promote a just transition in the waste sector, and generate income and inclusion for waste pickers.

According to data from the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimation System (SEEG, 2022), the disposal of organic waste in landfills and dumps is the second-largest source of methane emissions in Brazil, accounting for almost 10% of the country’s total emissions. In Belém, the scenario is even more critical: waste accounts for 31.5% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and 99% of its methane emissions.

Program details

Opening remarks by national and international leaders in the circular economy at 9:30 a.m. Confirmed speakers include: Mr. Roberto Laureano Rocha (MNCR/Brazil), Ms. Soledad Mellia (Red Lacre/Chile), Mr. Marcelo Mena (CEO of the Global Methane Hub), Mr. Igor Wender (Mayor of Belém), Ms. Eva Mokoena (African Alliance of Waste Pickers/Africa), and Mr. Severino Lima Júnior (IAWP).

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion: "The COP30 Legacy for Waste Pickers". Speakers: Mr. Luiz Henrique da Silva (Unicatadores/MNCR), Ms. Maria Trindade (MNCR), Ms. Nancy Naculeti (Pimp My Carroça), and Mr. Victor Argentino (Instituto Pólis). The discussion will explore how COP30 can provide the waste picker community with concrete and lasting benefits.

After the lunch break, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., guests will participate in guided tours of the interventions at CONCAVES, highlighting the inauguration of the public organic waste treatment system. In the afternoon, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., there will be a session of videos and films, including the screening of the documentary “The History of Recyclable Material Collectors – from Brazil to the World”, which celebrates the historical and global role of the movement.

The event will close at 5:00 p.m. with speeches by Ms. Tessy Bull (Nigeria), Mr. Severino Lima Júnior (IAWP/MNCR), and Ms. Roselaine Mendes (Unicatadores/MNCR), marking the end of official activities and reinforcing the international character of the alliance of waste pickers for climate justice.

Service

Event: Opening of Belém's First Public Composting System

Date: November 9 (Sunday)

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Venue: CONCAVES Headquarters – Bernardo Sayão Avenue, 2176, Belém (PA)

Press accreditation: contato@agenciagalo.com or WhatsApp (+5511) 98562-3094 (Thiago Rebouças)

English version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes.
Proofreading by Enrique Villmail.