Alerj approves recycling incentive program

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) has approved the state bill 1.424/16, by Congressman Carlos Minc (PSB), to create the State Payment Program by Environmental Recycling Services (PSAR). The proposal aims to provide financial support to material pickers’ ventures using the funds generated by environmental fines and the contributions of companies, in accordance with the with shared responsibility for the life cycle of their products, as determined by the Federal Solid Waste Law. The measure will now be forwarded to the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, who has up to 15 working days to sanction or veto it.

BVRio was a pioneer of reverse logistics credits for the market. In early 2013, the institution signed a collaboration agreement with the National Waste Pickers to develop a system of compensation for waste pickers by the environmental services of reverse logistics and recycling that they provide to companies, governments and society. Currently, BVRio’s Circular Action Hub platform connects circular waste management projects to supporters in about 40 countries in five continents.

The program’s objectives are to reduce environmental impacts, the economy of resources and the creation of jobs and income for waste pickers, among others. The text provides that the programme can be financed with the money from terms of adjustment of conduct for environmental damage related to waste management, these resources can be used with waste pickers at the site where the damage occurred environmental.

“It is another great step forward for the social inclusion of those involved in the recycling chain and towards increasing income growth among households”, comments Maurício de Moura Costa, CEO of BVRio.

Carlos Minc explains that the intention is to encourage economic-solidarity enterprises made up of waste pickers, in compliance with the State Policy of Solid Waste. “The Federal law has defined that we all have responsibilities, but we do not define exactly how this should happen. The aim is to support the waste pickers who provide an indispensable environmental service – the collection of recyclables enabling their reintroduction into industry as raw material – and give this service visibility and measurement parameters. It’s a good day for waste pickers, it’s a day when recycling wins! And the resources are not public, they are from the polluters themselves,” he explains.

 

Source: Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj)