JOURNEY & CURRENT STATUS

The Aldeia Lixo Zero initiative was conceived in 2016, with its first pilot in the Mutum village, in the Gregório Indigenous Territory of the Yawanawá people. It began as a pioneering experiment to understand and tackle the challenges of waste in remote areas of the Amazon. Aldeia Lixo Zero

Between 2017 and 2020, the project was progressively implemented to strengthen waste management in the Yawanawá territory in the State of Acre, and between 2023 and 2025 in the Morro dos Cavalos Indigenous Territory with the Guarani people in the State of Santa Catarina.

With the Yawanawá people, the project started in Mutum village: in Phase 1, the diagnosis identified the priority risk of disposable batteries and other toxic waste being discarded in the forest and riverbanks — linked to the heavy use of lanterns for hunting — as well as low awareness of their toxicity, pointing to the need for a safe removal route. In Phase 2, with crowdfunding support, the team resumed practical actions including community education and engagement (with families, children, and teachers), “zero waste” signage, cleanup efforts, distribution of containers, and coordination with São Vicente and the local municipality. In Phase 3, technical training advanced (reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost) with purchase of equipment for a Waste Station. Phase 4 strengthened routines, held creative reuse workshops, and began expanding to other villages (Escondido, Yawarani, and Sete Estrelas), though the station was not completed. In Phase 5, focus shifted to territorial governance of disposal, consolidating partnerships with cooperatives and government bodies, establishing the SELETAR collective of Yawanawá waste collectors, and ensuring donations and collaborations that increased long-term sustainability of the “zero waste” approach. Aldeia Lixo Zero

Since then, the Indigenous communities involved have experienced profound transformations, especially driven by the growth of ethnourism and renewed interest in cultural traditions. This has brought an increasing number of visitors — from both Brazil and abroad — to the villages, intensifying the demand for infrastructure and local adaptability to host this audience.

During this period, structured project activities paused due to financial limitations and lower community engagement, as many residents took on responsibilities related to hospitality and visitor reception. However, the rise in tourism once again highlighted the waste issue — not only within the villages but also in the surrounding forest.

It was in this context, in 2025, with support from a collaborator linked to the Projeto Terra do Sol (in Portugal), that Aldeia Lixo Zero was reactivated in the Yawanawá territory, gaining renewed momentum and international recognition for the urgency of the cause. From that point on, the project began to reorganize with a renewed focus on waste challenges in Indigenous lands.

Recognizing that traditional disposal methods — such as burying or burning waste — are no longer viable or safe given the volume and types of waste generated, communities have sought sustainable alternatives. Buried waste contaminates soil, while burning pollutes air and poses fire risks, compromising health and environmental balance.

Today, with the support of volunteers, the Indigenous community, and institutional partners — including Kama Collective — the project has resumed activities with phase-based planning to ensure sustainability, autonomy, and lasting impact.