The Intendencia de Montevideo, through the Áreas Liberadas program, has managed to remove almost 200,000 tons of waste that were contaminating waterways and urban ecosystems, achieving significant progress in cleaning and environmental quality.
According to the Environmental Management manager, Verónica Piñeiro, this initiative has allowed transforming degraded areas, improving the community’s relationship with waste management.
Montevideo Greener: strategies for a more sustainable city
The Áreas Liberadas program and the cleaning of waterways are part of the Montevideo Greener strategy. Its goal is to put the environment at the center of municipal management and promote a cultural change in waste treatment.
Among its main actions are:
- Expansion of source separation, with the delivery of bags to housing cooperatives.
- Promotion of home composting and the creation of community composters, in places like Villa Dolores and Parque Rivera.
- Recovery of public spaces, replacing contaminated sites with squares, sports areas, and playgrounds.
Interdisciplinary approach and citizen participation
To achieve these results, the Intendencia worked in a transversal manner, analyzing various causes of waste accumulation, such as:
- Informal classification in vulnerable areas.
- Inadequate disposal of industrial and commercial waste.
- Deficiencies in collection systems, adapting more efficient methods together with residents.
An example of this is the implementation of manual collection with trucks and motorcycles, applied in neighborhoods like Casabó and Bajo Valencia, where community involvement has been key to its success.
A replicable environmental management model
The impact of Áreas Liberadas shows that the combination of infrastructure, public policies, and citizen participation can significantly improve the urban environment, preventing tons of waste from affecting wetlands, beaches, and coastal ecosystems.
“It was truly impactful from an environmental perspective to remove this waste and give it appropriate final disposal”, concluded Piñeiro, reaffirming Montevideo’s commitment to sustainability and community well-being.
Cover photo: Santiago Mazzarovich
