Rigesa is participating in Ecoelce, one of the 20 most important projects for the Global Compact - Aug 26, 2008 - 8:52:00 AM

August 18 saw the inauguration in Pacajus of the first Ecopoint of the Ecoelce project, which included the participation of Rigesa, Pacajus City Hall, Coelce (Ceará State Energy Company) and Ultrambiental.
Ecoelce is another environmentally friendly project which enjoys a contribution from Rigesa. It is a question of an action which encourages the exchange of recyclable material for a bonus in the energy bill, generating savings and benefits for the environment.
With just one year of operation in other towns in the state of Ceará, Ecoelce stands out internationally for its economic and social results. The idea of exchanging recyclable material for bonuses in the energy bill has already captured the attention even of the UN, which rates the program as one of the most significant Social Responsibility projects for the UN Global Compact. That is why it was one of the 20 projects chosen by the organization to be part of a TV series to be presented in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Any citizen can take part in the project. All he has to do is register with the Ecopoint to obtain a card which allows him to receive credits in his energy bill arising from an exchange for recyclable material.
What is different about the project in Pacajus which was implemented at the request of Rigesa, is its educational nature. With this, the benefits gained from the sale of the recyclable material donated by the region¿s industries and by the commercial establishments and also material collected in schools, will revert to an Association, of which Rigesa is a founding partner. This association will analyze socio-environmental and educational projects in the region, establish priorities based on local reality, channeling sums of money to have them implemented.
About the Ecoelce Project
Between March 2007 and March 2008, the Ceará Energy Company (Coelce) distributed R$ 215,000 in bonuses to 23,787 participants registered through the program. Many customers pay nothing at all for their energy. Every month, these people head off to one of the 35 collection points, hand over the material and the bonus is applied to the subsequent bill. As for the glass, plastic, paper and metal, these are forwarded to recycling companies.
As a result of this effort, 1,700 tons of material were diverted from garbage, landfills or the environment and have arrived at their proper destination. The goal is to reach 70 collection points in the state of Ceará by December.
In the opinion of Ecoelce¿s coordinator, Vinícius de Lima Cunha, the initiative is simple, but produces excellent results. ¿Energy is an essential asset. For many people, saving R$ 9.00 or R$ 10.00 on their energy bills is a big deal¿, he feels. In this way, waste stops polluting rivers, canals and streets, and this contributes to the reduction of illnesses such as dengue fever.
By collecting 504,000 kilograms of metal, 574,000 kilos of iron ore did not have to be extracted. With the 203,000 kilos of plastic collected, the consumption of more than two tons of oil was avoided. As for the 219,000 kilos of glass, which is 100% recyclable, the production of the same amount of new glass was avoided.