Huarmey

The project in Huarmey, and the neighboring town Chasquitambo, was initiated by the mining company Antamina. As part of the social awareness program of Antamina they wanted to promote recycling in Huarmey. Contacting CONAM (the National Environmental Council of Peru), they were informed about the Carhuaz project and consequently Albina, the founder and executive director of Ciudad Saludable, was contacted. Analyzing the situation in Huarmey she convinced Antamina and the local municipality to extend the initial recycling program to the implementation of a complete solid waste management system. Following the Carhuaz example a study was performed to analyze the demographics and the state of the recollection service. Again a team was established to monitor the implementation of the solid waste management system and the operations of the micro enterprise.

As was initially the case in Carhuaz the team consists of members of the NGO Urpichallay, working under the close supervision of Ciudad Saludable. Besides monitoring the solid waste management system, the team is in charge of environmental awareness programs, usually in the form of workshops in schools and local community centers. Key attention during these workshops is laid on the adequate separation of waste into organics and inorganics, which enables the reuse of waste.

The situation in Huarmey has changed dramatically over the last few years. Waste collection anddisposal has become organized, pollution has decreased, the environment is restoring and Huarmey counts with a more environmentally conscious population.