Households in Montevideo generate 1,200 tons of trash per day, most of which is disposed of directly in trash bins. In addition, businesses, companies, and institutions in Montevideo generate nearly the same amount (more than 1,000 tons) every day.
Therefore, with the aim of repurposing the waste generated at the Montevideo City Hall (IM) headquarters, the city signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday, September 27, with Universidad ORT Uruguay, an institution that has implemented a successful recycling campaign.
The agreement was signed on behalf of IM by Dr. Fernando Puntigliano, Director of Environmental Development, and on behalf of ORT by Daniel Oliveri, Administrative Director.
Under the agreement, the ORTrecicla team, which has been in operation since early 2017, will conduct a series of training workshops on the sorting and disposal of waste generated at City Hall. These sessions will be attended by staff from the IM’s Technical Environmental Education Team (ETEA), representatives from the Cleaning Division (DL), and the City Hall Maintenance Service (SCP), all of whom are committed to improving waste management in the workplace.
ORT’s recycling program was created to implement efficient waste management at the university’s campuses, as well as to raise awareness among students, faculty, and staff. “It is in the IM’s interest to implement a similar program (…), both at its Main Campus and at its Annex,” states the signed agreement.
The municipality aims to set an example in waste management: first, by raising awareness among its staff, and then by raising awareness at the local level.
Since the campaign began, the university has recycled more than seven tons of paper and cardboard, and nearly two tons of plastic (PET bottles). In addition, ORT installed more than 1,250 LED lights, removed plastic cups from the dispensers, and set up the first classroom equipped with smart home technology.
In the future, the university plans to install a system to automatically turn the lights in the hallway of one of its schools on and off.
Montevideo City Government and Universidad ORT Uruguay: Working Together for Efficient Environmental Management - article published on Montevideo Portal on September 28, 2018
Montevideo City Government and ORT Sign Agreement - Article published in InfoNegocios on September 27, 2018