# Recycling Cooperative in Itacaré, Bahia, Brasil **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [September 6, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.regen.network/t/recycling-cooperative-in-itacare-bahia-brasil/632 "2026-09-06T15:16:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IoZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@IoZ](https://forum.regen.network/u/IoZ)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.regen.network/t/recycling-cooperative-in-itacare-bahia-brasil/632/1 "2026-09-06T15:16:30Z")
A New Circular Economy with Digital Currency, Carbon Credits, and Social Technologies _Consolidated report for the Regional Coordination Forum, covering the entire project from financing to innovative socio-environmental solutions._ * * * ## 1. Introduction The municipality of Itacaré, on the southern coast of Bahia, is nationally recognized for its natural beauty and for having closed its open-air dump ahead of the legal deadline. It is now about to take a revolutionary step in solid waste management. A new recycling cooperative is being formalized, combining **community tradition, technological innovation, and sustainability**. This document consolidates all the information discussed about the project, from funding sources to the innovative social technologies that will be implemented. * * * ## 2. Context and Protagonist: The Casa do Boneco de Itacaré The **Casa do Boneco de Itacaré Association for Afro-Development (CBI)** is the community organization leading this project. Founded in **1988** , the entity acts as a **contemporary urban _quilombo_** , dedicated to mitigating the socio-cultural and economic impacts of capitalism on the Afro-indigenous communities of Itacaré. With a track record of training hundreds of young people in areas such as bioconstruction and community management, CBI already has experience in recycling. Additionally, it manages the **Quilombo D’Oiti Model Farm** , a self-managed territory that serves as a base for community-based ethnic tourism and the implementation of social technologies. The Association has already collected **100 tons of recyclable dry materials** in just five months of operation of its collectors’ association. * * * ## 3. The New Recycling Cooperative Building on this solid foundation, Casa do Boneco is formalizing a **recycling cooperative** to expand its socio-economic and environmental impact in the region. The initial focus will be on three strategic materials: - **Organic Waste** : with high potential to generate bio-inputs and animal protein. - **Glass** : 100% recyclable material with strong market demand. - **Aluminum** : high added value in the recycling market. * * * ## 4. Innovations and Integrated Projects The cooperative will go beyond traditional sorting, incorporating four innovative pillars that place Itacaré at the forefront of the circular economy. ### 💱 4.1. ItaCycle – The Digital Social Currency Inspired by experiences such as the “$iclos Sustentáveis” currency (Espírito Santo) and the **Recircular** project (which uses cryptocurrency to pay waste pickers), **ItaCycle** will be a digital social currency backed by recyclable waste. - **How it works** : Residents and tourists who deliver recyclable materials to collection points will receive ItaCycles in a digital wallet. - **Usage** : Credits can be exchanged for products, services, and discounts in local businesses. - **Technology** : Use of **blockchain and smart contracts** to track each stage of the recycling process, ensuring transparency and traceability. - **Financial Inclusion** : The system also promotes financial inclusion for waste pickers and families in vulnerable situations. ### 🌱 4.2. Carbon Footprint Calculation and Carbon Credits The cooperative will implement a carbon footprint measurement system to quantify the environmental impact of its operations. - **Metrics** : Quantification of CO₂ avoided by recycling each material (glass, aluminum, and organics). - **Market** : Generation of **carbon credits** for trading on the voluntary market. Similar projects have shown that recycling can generate over **R$ 1 million in credits** for cooperatives. - **Attraction** : Possibility of attracting companies and events (especially from the tourism sector) looking to offset their emissions, taking advantage of Itacaré’s high season visitor flow. ### 🐛 4.3. Organic Waste-to-Larvae Production (BSF) Using the **Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)** to transform organic waste into high-value products. - **Animal Protein** : The larvae, rich in protein (30-35% fat and up to **50% protein** ), serve as feed for poultry, fish, pigs, and pets. - **Biofertilizer** : “Frass” (the larvae’s digestion residue) is a powerful agricultural input. - **Efficiency** : The system can reduce the volume of organic waste by up to **80%**. Each ton of organic waste can generate up to **900 kg of protein** in the form of larvae. - **Scalability** : Modular systems can process between **24 and 36 tons of waste per month** , producing **3 to 8 tons of fresh larvae** monthly. ### 🥥 4.4. Green Coconut Processing Itacaré is one of the largest consumers of green coconuts on the southern coast of Bahia, with **12 potential suppliers** mapped in the municipality. It is estimated that the region wastes the equivalent of **872,000 coconut husk units** annually, from which approximately **328 tons of fiber** could be extracted — but today, this material ends up in the landfill. The cooperative aims to change this scenario with a **green coconut processing** line, transforming the husk into: - **Fiber** for manufacturing ropes, mats, and handicrafts. - **Coconut powder** for agricultural substrates and biodegradable pots. - **Activated carbon** and other high-value by-products. With the new **National Policy to Encourage Cocoiculture (Law 14.975/2024)**, the sector has gained extra momentum, opening doors to credit lines and tax incentives. * * * ## 5. Financing and Institutional Support The formalization and expansion of the cooperative are supported by key institutions and programs. ### 5.1. BNDES and the “Tudo na Circularidade” Program The **Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)** launched the program **“Tudo na Circularidade – Investing in Recyclable Material Cooperatives”** in March 2025. - **Funding** : Initial allocation of **R$ 20 million** from BNDES’s Socio-Environmental Fund, with expectations to raise up to **R$ 100 million**. - **Objective** : To expand the access of cooperative and waste-picker networks to the **Reverse Logistics Credit (CLR)** market and boost job and income generation. - **Innovation** : Cooperatives will be compensated **not only for the weight of recycled material but also for the environmental services they provide**. - **Reverse Logistics Credits (CLR)**: Established in 2023, this is a compensation mechanism similar to carbon credits. Cooperatives are entitled to receive payment for selling the credits generated by their recycling activities. The program also provides for investments in **technological modernization and innovation** , overcoming challenges such as taxation, logistics, and low profit margins. ### 5.2. Other Support - **Sebrae** : Active role in strengthening management and cooperativism through the **Pró-Catadores Project** , offering specialized consulting, training, and guidance on formalization. - **State Government** : Programs such as **Bolsa Reciclagem** (which in Minas Gerais allocated R$ 875,000 to 72 cooperatives in Q2 2024) serve as references for Payment for Environmental Services (PES) policies that could be adapted for Bahia. * * * ## 6. Impact and Future With formalization, the cooperative will be able to access public bids, sign contracts with the government, and establish itself as a **reference hub for the circular economy on the southern coast of Bahia**. By combining the tradition and community organization of **Casa do Boneco de Itacaré** with innovative technologies (digital currency, biolarvae factory, and carbon credits), Itacaré demonstrates that it is possible to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for **income generation, social inclusion, and preservation of Afro-indigenous culture**. The city, already nationally renowned for projects such as the **Screening and Ecobusiness Center** and the **PROMARES Project** (an international pilot area for fighting marine litter), is solidifying its status as a true **living sustainability laboratory** on the southern coast of Bahia. * * * ## 7. Conclusion The recycling cooperative led by Casa do Boneco de Itacaré represents an innovative model that integrates: | Axis | Innovation | | --- | --- | | **Financial** | Digital social currency (ItaCycle) | | **Environmental** | Carbon credits and reverse logistics | | **Technological** | Black soldier fly larvae production | | **Productive** | Green coconut processing | | **Institutional** | Access to non-reimbursable BNDES funds | This project demonstrates that the circular economy can be **inclusive, digital, and sustainable** , generating income for families living off recycling while strengthening the cultural identity of Itacaré’s Afro-indigenous communities. * * * **📌 Stay Tuned:** The cooperative is in its structuring phase and is seeking partnerships to bring **ItaCycle** and its other innovations to life. The BNDES “Tudo na Circularidade” call for proposals closed in May 2025, but new opportunities and notices are expected to arise soon. * * * _This document consolidates information from the Casa do Boneco de Itacaré Association for Afro-Development, BNDES, Sebrae, FATTO, Plástico Transforma, UFSB, ScienceDirect, and Agência Brasil._