Pucallpa

In the beginning of 2004 Albina was approached by Energy Aguaytia, who heard of heir work and that of Ciudad Saludable through Ashoka. At the initial invitation an assessment was made of in what way Ciudad Saludable could help to change the situation in Pucallpa and how to protect the nearby lake Yarinacocha from contamination. Albina was already familiar with the situation in Pucallpa , since she fulfilled the role of evaluator of the waste disposal in an earlier part of her career. An investigation to the status of the collection service and the demographics of the population was also already performed, in 2002. However, the study did not include a characterization of the solid waste produced by the population. Essential data when reorganizing the service of recycling, collection, treatment and final disposal of solid waste. And reorganization is very necessary.

The situation in Pucallpa is troublesome, to say the least. Garbage is currently dumped in an area nearby Pucallpa . However a human settlement is situated in the very same area and people are literally living in the garbage. People step out of their houses straight in to the garbage, hanging their clothes to dry above the garbage, their kids playing in the middle of the garbage surrounded by the big black vultures, that are common to places were garbage is not disposed properly.

Eager to help out, Albina invested a lot of her own time (without payment) to initiate the change process. She found a strong ally in a local NGO, Peru Ambiente, the Regional Government of Ucayali and the Provincial Municipality of Coronel Portillo, during this process. Relationships with the appropriate government officials were formed, after which a more detailed plan was elaborated. A characterization study was performed, municipal employees are being trained and a new disposal area is under construction. All activities are currently supervised by two local members of Ciudad Saludable.