Phase II of the Safe Recovery and Reuse of Resources (RRR, for its Spanish acronym) was launched in August 2016 in order to restructure sanitation systems and turn waste flows into physical and financial flows of resources, thus guaranteeing and promoting their reuse without any risks.

Last May 29 took place a ceremony that marked the completion of the Safe Recovery and Reuse of Resources (RRR) project, event in which participants discussed the project results, its major issues, and the lessons learned. The ceremony was presided by Mr. Marcos Alegre Chang, Vice Minister of Environmental Management at the Ministry of the Environment, and Ms. Cesarina Quintana, SDC Senior National Program Officer.

In his speech, the Vice Minister analyzed the current situation of solid waste in Peru, underscoring the interest of the environmental sector in a bill intended to reduce the use of plastic bags, items which take up to hundreds of years to decompose and which pollute the different ecosystems across the globe. This is currently under consideration in congress.

Likewise, he put emphasis on the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act and its regulation, by mentioning that this act is intended to minimize solid waste generation at the source (households, companies, industries, businesses, etc.) and promote waste recovery and valorization through processes such as plastic, metal, glass and wastewater recycling, with the ultimate goal of promoting a circular economy by generating value from waste, just as with the RRR project.

Meanwhile, Ms. Cesarina Quintana mentioned that the safe recovery and reuse of resources provides excellent business opportunities to both public and private entities: flows of liquid and solid waste (such as treated wastewater, organic waste from markets, and waste edible oils) can be transformed into valuable products (such as irrigation water, nutrients to improve soil fertility, and renewable energy sources). She also stressed the importance of having the help and support of the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation to coordinate the actions laid out in the RRR project to thus contribute to the inclusion of sanitation safety planning in the country’s regulatory framework.

During the event, the results of the working groups, the major issues, and the lessons learned were discussed so as to ensure the continuity of the Public Private Group (RRR Consortium) by strengthening its institutional character, and thus ensure the development of the project’s undertakings. Here is a brief summary of the undertakings within the framework of this project.

Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Case Study– District Municipality of San Miguel This undertaking looks to reduce the air pollution caused by the industry and the car fleet, reduce water pollution by targeting the disposal of waste edible oils down drains and pipes in household, restaurants, and so on, and prevent the informal recovery (reuse) of waste to produce pigswill and frying oils for human consumption, a practice which affects public health.

District Municipality of Lima Case Study. This undertaking looks to prevent wastewater from going into the environment by treating and safely reusing it to water public and/or private green areas. It involves wastewater treatment at a secondary level, which reduces organic load and pathogens, and thus eliminate any potential risk to public health.

X-Runner Case Study. Social enterprise that looks to provide decentralized sanitation services to vulnerable segments of the population in Lima, including the transformation of human feces into organic compost. This project is currently at an intermediate implementation stage, with its focus being on enterprise growth and the consolidation of the product reuse model. A social enterprise has a positive impact on its clients’ health and well-being, and also increases employment in the area.

LAMSAC- Mercado de Flores Santa Rosa Case Study. Within the framework of its corporate social responsibility program, the private company LAMSAC started operating a composting plant in collaboration with members of the Santa Rosa flower market. Using green waste from the flower market, the composting plant produces high-quality organic fertilizers. The project is currently at an intermediate implementation stage: an operating pilot system has been installed and production is at a steady flow.

Los Olivos Case Study. Los Olivos district, with a population of over 370 thousand people, houses more than 30 markets, the biggest and most representative being Mercado de Productores MERPROLIMA, Gran Mercado Mayorista CONZAC, and COVIDA market. The project looks to treat vegetable waste generated at markets, parks and gardens to avoid its disposal to landfills. Waste would then be treated appropriately and turned into compost. This would improve the quality of life and the environment. The product would be compost, and it would be called CompostOL.

At the closing of the event, Mr. Martin Jaggi, Head of Cooperation – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, highlighted the project’s success in meeting its objectives thanks to the joint work of actors from the public and private sectors, which shows the interest in working on this issue. He then underscored the key factors to the success of the undertakings, namely: i) the individual and institutional commitment behind each undertaking; ii) the political leadership at all government levels; iii) the knowledge, innovation, and technology involved; iv) information management and coordination among the different actors, the public and private sectors, and the academy, v) the sharing of experiences among countries, and vi) the perseverance of believing it is indeed possible to foster initiatives like this. Finally, he added he hopes the Ministry of Housing will promote them.

You can download the presentations in the following links (only spanish):

1. Highlights and Learning
2. Strategic contributions.
3. Wastewater Regulations
4. Municipal Experience of North Lima
5. Experience Santa Rosa Flower Market
6. Experience Waste oils
7. < a href="https://www.cooperacionsuiza.pe/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/7.-emprendimiento-aguaresidual_munimetrolima.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Residual Water Experience Municipal MetroLima
8. Experience Compost Los olivos

For further information:
Brochure Safe Recovery and Reuse of Resources (RRR) project