2023-05-15 13:55:08
Foz do Iguaçu, in Paraná, has been investing in the management of organic food waste through the installation of HomeBiogas biodigesters in schools and vulnerable communities. Currently, the city has 30 systems installed throughout the municipality, and the forecast is that by July 2023 there will be 100 equipment in full operation.
The installed biodigesters are capable of transforming organic food waste into biogas, which is used for cooking, generating savings for the school and contributing to food security for students. In addition to this feature, the equipment converts organic waste into natural liquid biofertilizer, used in green areas and school gardens, helps in learning regarding food production, strengthens the soil and enhances the production of vegetables. According to Eng. Agronomist, Luiz Cremonini, “the biofertilizer generated by the biodigesters provides nutrition of macro and micronutrients, improves the structure and biology of the soil, promoting a continuous and sustainable source for the fertilization of the gardens, without the need for chemical/mineral resources”.
In vulnerable communities, biodigesters replace firewood and/or charcoal, still widely used for cooking, ensuring food security and contributing to reducing the environmental impact caused by the incorrect disposal of organic food waste. The natural liquid biofertilizer is used in vegetable gardens and plantations in communities, encouraging urban agriculture and the consumption of healthy foods.
According to Carlos Almeida, Environmental Manager and Master’s student in Sustainability, “one of Brazil’s main challenges is the proper management of organic waste. On average, 50% of everything produced in the country is organic and might be converted into benefits, such as renewable energy, instead of being sent to landfills, which results in contamination of the atmosphere, soil and groundwater . In addition to the environmental impacts, exposure to toxic fumes resulting from the burning of firewood or charcoal causes several harms to human health, a problem that can be corrected with the use of biogas for cooking”.
The project to install HomeBiogas biodigesters in Foz do Iguaçu achieves 13 of the 17 UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Mayor Chico Brasileiro highlights the importance of the initiative for the preservation of the environment and for the sustainable development of the municipality. “The use of biodigesters is an action that benefits the city as a whole. In addition to generating clean energy, it contributes to environmental and multidisciplinary education in schools, promotes food security in vulnerable communities and collaborates with the conscious management of organic waste”, said the mayor.
Leandro Toledano, CEO of BioMovement, the company that exclusively represents this technology in the country, endorses the importance of a disruptive technology in education so that children learn in practice regarding caring for the environment. He states: “Our mission is to bring dignity, quality of life and resilience to those who don’t have it, making the world fairer and more supportive, environmentally correct, socially collaborative and economically viable”.
Sustainability is a priority for the new generation of students in the municipal education network in Foz do Iguaçu, and at the Centro Municipal de Educação Infantil (CMEI) Professora Nidia Benitez, in Vila Solidária, this has become a practical reality with the installation of HomeBiogas. The unit already separated its waste and, with the addition of the biodigester, the correct disposal of food waste became efficient and effective. Now, instead of disposing of organic waste, it is transformed into biogas for the kitchen and biofertilizer, which can be reused within the school itself. This initiative is an example of how technology can be used to promote sustainability, savings and knowledge in schools and communities.
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