Porto Itapoá becomes ‘zero landfill’ terminal

Key to this achievement is a treatment facility that uses an accelerated composting method to turn the material into fertiliser. More than 13 tonnes of organic waste have been saved from landfill so far.

“In 2023 alone, we generated more than five tonnes of this organic compound,” said Sergni Pessoa Rosa Jr., director of Operations, Environment, and Technology at Porto Itapoá.

“The material is distributed to the local community of Itapoá, which uses it as fertiliser for plantations and gardening.”

The treatment process has been developed by Organa Biotech, winner of the Supplier Day 2022 Award which celebrates initiatives dedicated to ESG.

Non-organic solid waste is sent for recycling, such as the bricks, cement and pavers which are crushed for use as aggregate. Metallic material gains new life in the foundry and wood, paper and cardboard are also recycled. These initiatives, plus others, have reduced the port’s CO2 emissions by 17 tonnes and avoided the use of more than 1,200 plastic bags.

Another key initiative is the Menos Um Lixo campaign, which sees the company distribute a retractable and reusable silicone cup to its employees, suppliers and partners, saving 60,000 plastic cups per month in the terminal alone.