Last Tuesday, August 8, 2023, the 4th edition of Polytechnic Recycling was held at the National Polytechnic School, an event proposed by ReciVeci to this educational institution to promote inclusive recycling with students and teaching and administrative staff, and whose first edition was in 2019.
In that first edition, 7.5 tons of recyclable material were recovered. In this edition, we achieved 1.6 tons more material than in 2019, which was delivered directly to basic recyclers who have recycled for years at the National Polytechnic School, and to recyclers from some member associations of RENAREC (National Network of Recyclers of Ecuador).
According to testimonies from the EPN recycler, América Pallasco, this amount of material would have taken them at least two months to collect. It should be noted that it is not only about the material itself, but also about the conditions in which it was delivered: in a classified, clean and separate state, and that they also did not have to search for mining in garbage, in dangerous and unhealthy conditions.
From ReciVeci, we thank the National Polytechnic School for allowing us to propose this activity and give it continuity; to the Rector Dr. Florinella Muñoz, to the students who, organizing themselves through associations, faculties and departments, managed to bring an unprecedented amount of material that would otherwise have been garbage, and also to the basic recyclers who were present at the event. We also thank Latitude R and Fundación Avina for providing the necessary resources for the logistics and work of the waste pickers who participated in the event.
It is always important to highlight that although recovering large quantities of material is an achievement (considering that this would go to landfills and would simply be garbage, without benefiting anyone or the planet) at ReciVeci we advocate the prevention and reduction of waste generation.
We continue to propose public awareness campaigns to promote inclusive recycling and strengthen the circular economy in Ecuador.
