The Recycling Scheme

• 2/3 of Curitiba’s waste is recycled

• Reduces waste going to landfill, so
less methane released
• New products created cheaply
• Conserves natural resources such as
wood and oil for paper and plastics
• Provides jobs for local people
• Old books sorted and created a
public library for children
•
Pedestrianisation of the city centre
• Removed roads from the city
centre, so only pedestrians could
visit
• Reduced emissions from vehicles
in the city centre = reduced air
pollution
The Interconnected Parks
• Provide habitats, so increase
biodiversity
• Absorb rainfall, so reduce the
flood risk in the city
• Trees have been planted 
absorb CO2 and reduce air
pollution
• Space to exercise and relax =
good for mental health
The triple-articulated buses
• Central bus lane = faster so over 4,000
passengers per day per bus = less
congestion
• Triple-articulated = more passengers = less
cars on the road
• Special boarding tubes – tickets bought on
the platform so journey times are reduced
= travel time is 1/3 quicker
• 5 main roads spread out from the city with
bus connections between each route
• 500x cheaper than underground subways
• One of lowest rates of air pollution in Brazil
= less health problems
• Low-income families spend 10% of income
on transport
The Green Exchange Scheme
• Favela residents collect waste from
favelas and sort it for recycling
• Residents swap this waste for bus
tickets = easy access to the city for
work in the formal economy
• They can also swap for food = less food
waste and better health for residents
• Reduces waste in the favelas =
improved sanitation and less rodents
etc.
• Collects 300 tonnes of rubbish per
month and help 30,000 families
The University of the Environment
• Education: Curitiba houses
the Free University for the Environ
ment
, which empowers the city’s poor
and teaches them about
sustainability. Signs and
information panels provide
citizens with information about
the city’s green design.
Encouraging a culture of pride
around sustainability and
promoting knowledge helps to
maintain the city’s greenness.
 Are there any unsustainable features of Curitiba that you
might want to criticise? Could it be improved in 2022?

1/3 of the waste still goes to landfill

Buses run on diesel or petrol = fossil fuels = although

better than cars contribute to air pollution
Sustainable strategy Key notes Why will this be sustainable? Criticisms of the strategy

Recycling scheme 2/3 of Curitiba’s waste is recycled

Interconnected parks

The triple-articulated • Central bus lane 4,000 passengers per

buses day per bus
• Triple-articulated means longer buses
• Special boarding tubes – tickets bought
on the platform

The green exchange • Favela residents collect waste from

scheme favelas and sort it for recycling .
• Residents swap this waste for bus tickets
or food.

The University of the Curitiba houses

Environment the Free University for the Environment,
which empowers the city’s poor and teaches
them about sustainability.

Pedestrianisation of Removed roads from the city centre, so only

the city centre pedestrians could visit