Guarujá converts illegal dump into green space as Brazilian towns expand waste‑recycling programs

The municipality of Guarujá in Brazil transformed a long‑standing illegal dumping site in the Maré Mansa neighbourhood into a newly planted green area. The project, carried out by the city’s Secretariat of Environment and Climate Safety with private partners, removed accumulated debris, leveled the ground and introduced native Atlantic Forest trees, creating a public park adjacent to a local school.

In a separate initiative, the municipality of Marechal Cândido Rondon opened a temporary collection point for branches, rubble and other unusable materials in its Sector 5. Residents can leave waste in front of their homes until 2 August, after which municipal crews will begin collection. The program, announced by Secretary Marciel Escher, aims to improve waste disposal and reduce mosquito‑breeding sites.

Both actions reflect a broader push by Brazilian local governments to replace illegal waste sites with green spaces and to improve community‑based waste management.