Goiânia launches program exchanging recyclables for food

The Goiânia City Hall has launched the ‘Troca e Coopera Goiânia’ pilot program, which allows residents to exchange recyclable materials for food produced in community gardens. Coordinated by the Municipal Secretariat of Development, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Services (Sedicas) in partnership with the Organization of Cooperatives of Brazil in Goiás (OCB/GO), the initiative aims to promote recycling, enhance food security, and reduce food waste.

Under the current model, participants can receive 1kg of food for every two kilograms of clean, dry recyclable materials delivered to collection points. The program prioritizes fruits, vegetables, and greens that may have visual imperfections or non-standard sizes but remain safe for consumption. In this initial phase, food is being sourced from the Paço Municipal and the Lar de Matilde Early Childhood Education Center gardens.

Jorge Neto, Director of Industry and Agribusiness at Sedicas, stated that the project seeks to create opportunities for rural producers and value the work of cooperatives by utilizing products that do not reach traditional markets due to aesthetic reasons. The city intends to monitor participation and material volume to potentially expand the program to other regions and include small-scale family farmers and rural associations in future stages.