The Focus City Project in Cochabamba received recognition from the Bolivian Parliament for its research toward improving solid waste management in the city. Team leader Gregory Paz Balderrama was invited by the Parliament to a World Environmental Day ceremony on 5 June 2009. His work with the “Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental de Bolivia” (SGAB - the Society for Environmental Management of Bolivia) was recognized at the ceremony.
SGAB is
UPE’s main partner in the Cochabamba project. Their work focuses on improving solid waste management as a way of improving the lives of the urban poor. In Cochabamba, some of the poorest residents live adjacent to Kjara Kjara, the city’s garbage dump, where many of them work as waste pickers. With support from
UPE, SGAB is working with the local government of Cochabamba to formulate a new integrated solid waste management plan (Solid Waste Ordinance), and to establish a cooperative recycling facility, managed by the local waste pickers, where recyclable materials will be sorted. In addition, the project is carrying out an environmental education campaign based on the principles of information, knowledge, education and participation of the population in the management of solid waste.
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