{"id":54839,"date":"2026-02-23T23:58:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T23:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/?p=54839"},"modified":"2026-02-27T20:27:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:27:26","slug":"from-carts-to-a-cooperative-a-home-for-montenegros-essential-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/blog\/from-carts-to-a-cooperative-a-home-for-montenegros-essential-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"From Carts to a Cooperative: A Home for Montenegro\u2019s Essential Workers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/stories.globalcommunities.org\/crisis-to-resilience\/localization\/a-day-in-the-life-of-recyclers\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">story of&nbsp;Projeto&nbsp;Reciclar<\/a>&nbsp;sounded like the rhythmic &#8220;clack-clack&#8221; of&nbsp;cart wheels&nbsp;on pavement before dawn. We walked those streets with Eloi&nbsp;and&nbsp;Florentina&nbsp;Tavares, and their son, Daniel, watching them navigate the shadows of Montenegro to find what the rest of the city had cast aside.&nbsp;The family is&nbsp;part of an estimated 800,000 trash recyclers who collect 90%&nbsp;of Brazil\u2019s used and discarded recyclables, playing a crucial public service role.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ironically, the&nbsp;project was a collection of &#8220;new&#8221; things: new carts, crisp uniforms, and&nbsp;a brand-new ambition. The idea of an established&nbsp;cooperative&nbsp;with&nbsp;a shared roof, a legal identity,&nbsp;and&nbsp;a seat at the table&nbsp;was still a&nbsp;dream&nbsp;the&nbsp;recyclers&nbsp;carried in those carts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Three years later, that dream\u00a0has\u00a0an address.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month, the&nbsp;Esta\u00e7\u00e3o&nbsp;Reciclar&nbsp;Cooperative officially opened its headquarters in the&nbsp;Esta\u00e7\u00e3o&nbsp;neighborhood, marking&nbsp;a turning point for the&nbsp;recyclers&nbsp;and a historic milestone for both the neighborhood and entire municipality of Montenegro.&nbsp;The new headquarters will be crucial not only for strengthening the&nbsp;cooperative&nbsp;but also for improving solid waste management in the municipality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_gc-brasil-projectoreciclarcontenttrip_aug2022_0b8a1793-2048x1366-1.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Tavares family have been members of the cooperative since its inception.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DJI_0308-1-2048x1152-1-edited-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54910\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Headquarters of the Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Reciclar Cooperative<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;Esta\u00e7\u00e3o&nbsp;Reciclar&nbsp;headquarters is the result of a partnership that began with a shared vision for long-term stability in the&nbsp;Esta\u00e7\u00e3o&nbsp;neighborhood. We recognized that with the&nbsp;right training and support, the&nbsp;recyclers&nbsp;who lived there&nbsp;could formalize their&nbsp;expertise, moving from informal labor toward a structured, member-governed social enterprise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&nbsp;started&nbsp;as informal brainstorming sessions in borrowed spaces has transformed into a community-run&nbsp;powerhouse. Today, the impact of the cooperative reaches well beyond its members, benefiting more than 1,100&nbsp;local residents, schools, and businesses&nbsp;through organized door-to-door collection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-color has-fl-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-9ea048063174c7e5c67b93efb787605e\"><strong>What is\u00a0a cooperative?\u00a0<\/strong><br>Cooperatives are member-owned organizations that\u00a0operate\u00a0for the benefit of their members.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0built on seven core principles: democratic governance, member participation, autonomy, education, cooperation among co-ops, equity, and community concern.\u00a0They help\u00a0people build wealth collectively, share risks and resources, strengthen social safety nets, and\u00a0build community leadership, especially for women, young people, and entrepreneurs.\u00a0Learn more about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/blog\/pass-the-mic-growing-from-our-roots-exploring-the-history-and-future-of-cooperative-development-programming-at-global-communities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">our deep roots in the cooperative movement<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Strength of a Shared Safety Net<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For families like the&nbsp;Tavareses, the specialized knowledge&nbsp;required&nbsp;to sort and rescue materials&nbsp;remains&nbsp;the heart of their work, but their daily life&nbsp;has been transformed&nbsp;by the formalization of&nbsp;the cooperative. In the past, they raced to beat garbage trucks in the pre-dawn shadows; today, thanks to organized door-to-door collection, they work during the day with materials already separated for them by a supportive community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most\u00a0significant change, however, is the safety net that now surrounds these families.\u00a0With the establishment of the new headquarters, their\u00a0work has moved out of cramped backyards and into a professional infrastructure built to manage 780 tons of material every year.\u00a0<strong>Beyond the new equipment, the project has transformed a once-solitary and informal struggle into a structured collective, backed by a R$ 6.5 million ($1.24 million USD) investment that provides 28 member families\u00a0\u2014\u00a0with room for up to 60\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the formal standing and resources they need to thrive together.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Montenegro has seen firsthand how&nbsp;environmental&nbsp;instability can upend a community, and this cooperative is a practical answer to that threat. By managing waste through a professional system&nbsp;and&nbsp;integrating&nbsp;the cooperative&nbsp;work&nbsp;into the circular economy, the city is ensuring that its most essential workers are no longer&nbsp;vulnerable,&nbsp;and the municipality is safer and more secure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"The members of the Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Reciclar Cooperative celebrating at the event.\" class=\"wp-image-54912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-77-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Celebrating at the inauguration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Ribbon cutting at the Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Reciclar Cooperative inaugural event\" class=\"wp-image-54913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globalcommunities.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProjetoReciclar_05_02-161-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cutting the ribbon at this milestone event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Next Chapter<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name implies,&nbsp;Projeto&nbsp;Reciclar&nbsp;is&nbsp;about&nbsp;the act of recycling,&nbsp;but it&nbsp;represents&nbsp;the validation of&nbsp;work that&nbsp;oftentimes goes unseen or underappreciated.&nbsp;None of this could be&nbsp;accomplished&nbsp;without the support&nbsp;of&nbsp;a coalition of partners like the John Deere&nbsp;Foundation,&nbsp;Sicredi&nbsp;Ouro&nbsp;Banco,&nbsp;Banco de&nbsp;Brasil&nbsp;Foundation,&nbsp;Baskrem&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Municipality&nbsp;of Montenegro.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The opening of the&nbsp;Esta\u00e7\u00e3o&nbsp;Reciclar&nbsp;headquarters&nbsp;is&nbsp;both a&nbsp;finish line&nbsp;and a starting point.&nbsp;As we move into 2026,&nbsp;the&nbsp;focus&nbsp;now&nbsp;shifts to scaling this model, securing new machinery, and ensuring that&nbsp;the cooperative&nbsp;remains&nbsp;a permanent engine for growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tomorrow morning,\u00a0the carts will roll out again. Eloi will still prepare the vests, Florentina will still stir the coffee, and Daniel will still walk beside them. But\u00a0this time, they\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0rolling\u00a0into the\u00a0unknown,\u00a0<strong>they are reporting to a headquarters of their own,\u00a0backed by a cooperative strong enough to carry the weight of a brighter future.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2022, the&nbsp;story of&nbsp;Projeto&nbsp;Reciclar&nbsp;sounded like the rhythmic &#8220;clack-clack&#8221; of&nbsp;cart wheels&nbsp;on pavement before dawn. We walked those streets with Eloi&nbsp;and&nbsp;Florentina&nbsp;Tavares, and their son, Daniel, watching them navigate the shadows of Montenegro to find what the rest of the city had cast aside.&nbsp;The family is&nbsp;part of an estimated 800,000 trash recyclers who collect 90%&nbsp;of Brazil\u2019s used and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[143,103,273,142],"gc_country":[12,11],"gc_area_of_expertise":[50],"class_list":["post-54839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-brazil","tag-cooperative","tag-cooperative-leadership","tag-recyclers","gc_country-brazil","gc_country-the-americas","gc_area_of_expertise-financial-inclusion"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Montenegro\u2019s Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Reciclar Milestone in Brazil - 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