In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in São Paulo, the collection and distribution of recyclable materials has been temporarily prohibited by city officials. As a result, many of the capital’s informal workers are now unable to make their daily income.
Concerned with the safety of the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on the informal recycling industry in Brazil, graffiti artist Mundano founded Pimp my Carroça. The initiative is taking action to guarantee basic hygiene for those living on the streets and assure a minimum income for waste collectors at a time of great uncertainty.
WATER AND SOAP KIT
Along with Cataki (an app that connects waste generators and recyclable material collectors), Mundano has developed a social campaign that teaches and encourages the distribution of #kitaguaesabao on the country’s streets.
The idea is very simple, enabling people to wash their hands anywhere in the streets. Thanks to donations from fellow citizens, hundreds of kits have already been installed, to be used by the city’s waste pickers and the homeless.
You can contribute and make the kit in your neighborhood too, see the illustrated guide with just 5 steps:
MINIMUM INCOME FOR WASTE PICKERS
To guarantee the waste collectors a basic income, Cataki launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise US$ 100k to guarantee a minimum income for the registered workers.
The local creative community was mobilized and hundreds of drawings, paintings, books, sculptures and even courses were made available as a reward for donations ranging from US$ 5 to US$ 900 and up. Original works and reproductions of artists like Paulo Ito, Marcos Amari and Mundano, as well as carroças miniatures made by Criolo, Emicida and Iskor. Check it out and help support some of the waste collectors who are in charge of most of the waste management in Brazil.