João Pessoa inaugurates first Ecoponto recycling hub in Valentina Figueiredo
The municipality of João Pessoa opened its first Ecoponto recycling centre on Thursday, 2 May, in the Valentina Figueiredo neighbourhood. The site, located next to the local UPA health unit, operates Monday‑Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
The centre is managed by the municipal sanitation agency Emlur in partnership with Orizon. It accepts a range of recyclable materials—paperboard (R$ 0.60/kg), glass (R$ 0.25/kg), aluminium cans (R$ 8.00/kg), PET plastics (R$ 2.50/kg), among others—and pays contributors instantly via Pix. Additional drop‑off boxes handle tyres, appliances, furniture and small construction waste. The Ecoponto is not intended for ordinary household waste, which must continue to be placed in curbside bins.
Officials highlighted the project’s environmental, social and economic benefits, noting that it creates income for residents and encourages proper waste separation. Plans are under way to replicate the model in other areas of the city.