Partnership with Ambipar professionalizes waste pickers, strengthens income generation and environmental benefits

Telêmaco Borba, September 23, 2025 – The transformation of waste into social, environmental, and economic opportunities is a reality in the region of Telêmaco Borba (Paraná, Brazil). The Klabin Transforms Circular Territory Program, an initiative supported by the technical partnership from Ambipar Group and the engagement of seven local governments in Paraná, celebrates 10 years of existence with significant results, bringing increased income, dignity, and recognition to those who make a living from recycling.

Created to professionalize cooperatives and transform sorting centers into true enterprises with social and economic impact, the program has been generating concrete results.

An example is ReciclaTB, from Telêmaco Borba (PR). At the end of 2024, the cooperative became a social franchise and a few months later recorded a significant increase in the monthly income of its members: 122% above the average of Ambipar's social franchises and 202% above the national average of the recycling sector.

As a result, the average monthly income of the cooperative members went from R$1,200 to more than R$3,500 per month. In all, 15 professionals are part of ReciclaTB, which has undergone a transformation. Rather than informal work, as used to be the case in the past, today the group meets all safety and production quality standards, strictly controls recycling indicators for each material. The increase in recycled material and income generation were consequences of this process.

"The ReciclaTB cooperative has stood out for its commitment to the socioeconomic development of its members. Through the implementation of a goal-based production system and effective administrative and financial management, we were able to achieve a significant increase in the income of our members. This significant increase in income not only improves the quality of life of our cooperative members, but also demonstrates the positive impact of an efficient and collaborative management model," says Giane Galvão, president of Recicla TB.

Uilson Paiva, Social Responsibility and Community Relations Manager at Klabin, says that the income increase recorded by Recicla TB and the excellent results of the other cooperatives in the region prove the potential of the circular economy. “These results were only possible because all the program’s assumptions are being fulfilled: the public sector doing its part in selective waste collection, environmental education so that the community disposes of waste correctly, training for recycling workers, and the transformation of sorting centers into exemplary workplaces for selling materials and reinserting them into production chains,” he emphasizes.

One of the initiatives that contributed to the increase in the income of recycling workers was the distribution of bags for the disposal of recyclable waste in the municipalities served by the Program. In Rio Branco do Ivaí (PR), for example, the delivery has already been carried out throughout the urban area and selective waste collection is carried out regularly. In addition, the delivery of bags is also done at schools, one for each student. Other municipalities in Paraná served by the program, such as Sapopema, Imbaú, Tibagi and Reserva, also received bags, which were delivered to the population to ensure the correct disposal of solid waste and facilitate both selective waste collection and the work of the recyclers themselves.

Juliana Navea, Ambipar's Director of Operations, strongly believes in the strength of partnerships as catalysts for new business models that drive recycling in Brazil. "The sector still faces numerous challenges, and its organization is urgent and indispensable. It will only be possible to move forward when companies, municipal governments, and civil society understand that this process requires unity and mutual cooperation. The partnership with Klabin is a concrete example of how this alignment can generate real impact. Today, we see more prepared recycling workers in municipalities, with a greater understanding of their own businesses, and this is progress that inspires us to keep going."

In a decade, Klabin Transforms Circular Territory is an economic driver for families who now have access to fairer wages, better working conditions, and ongoing training. These objectives are also part of the KODS (Klabin Objectives for Sustainable Development), a set of goals and commitments of the Company aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

About Klabin Transforms Circular Territory:

Present in seven municipalities in Paraná, Klabin Transforms Circular Territory works towards the social inclusion of cooperatives and recycling workers, as well as community engagement for the proper disposal of waste. In 2024 alone, the cooperatives involved in the program recovered more than 2,400 metric tons of recyclable waste.

Since its inception in 2015, the program has supported municipal governments in meeting the requirements of the National Solid Waste Policy. Through this initiative, cooperative members who process recyclable materials have seen their incomes increase by 86% since the project began. This progress results from the collaborative work of the team and community engagement.

In addition, the Klabin Transforms Circular Territory Program also invests in education and, at the end of April, the “Educator’s Legacy” event brought together teachers and principals from municipal schools to discuss environmental awareness, recycling, and the economy, in Telêmaco Borba (PR), as well as to reinforce the importance of educators addressing these topics in the classroom.

#Cooperative #RecyclingTB #Sustainability