Fortaleza faced overflowing landfills, low recycling rates, poor working conditions and stigmatization of informal workers.

Then, an innovative initiative helped create a new paradigm for waste management, worker conditions and cycling infrastructure. Re-Ciclo shows how to accelerate momentum for climate-ready communities through a holistic recycling program that combines door-to-door collection via e-tricycles with better wages and working conditions for waste pickers.

Hundreds of tons of recycling have been processed, income from some workers has increased up to 500% and the city’s cycling network has grown 541%.

Learn more about the 2023-2024 cycle:

• Download the summary report
• Read about the finalists on WRI's Insights
• Watch the finalist profiles
• How we decide
• Read finalist case studies in the Yale Hixon Center’s Practitioner Toolboxes: Built Environment, Climate Ready City, Green City, Healthy City