by efeinblatt | Jun 13, 2012 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives
We’ve previously written about the fragility of recycling cooperatives, always on the cusp of economic insolvency because of equipment breakdowns, or fires, or market fluctuations in the price of recyclables, or family illnesses, even sabotage – and the...
by efeinblatt | Mar 16, 2011 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives
So with the ordering of Hotpress #5 here in Buenos Aires and the departure of two-thirds of the core team of Waste for Life, a natural ending and celebration point has been reached. We are thrilled with the progress we have made so far. But we don’t have long to...
by | Feb 9, 2011 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives, engineering, news, partners, technology
Back in Buenos Aires, and it’s summer time so everything moves at half-speed. The heat has eased up over the last few days and that has made it more comfortable to move around. Still, whatever the weather, the cartoneros are present, winding their way through...
by efeinblatt | Dec 5, 2010 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives, technology
Three and one-half years after setting this process in motion, documents are signed to release funds to build the first production hotpress in Buenos Aires. The Cooperativa de Trabajo 19 de deciembre will build the press and deliver it to the Cooperativa Neuva Mente...
by efeinblatt | Nov 12, 2010 | argentina, cooperatives, technology
It’s been almost exactly three years since we visited the recovered metallurgic factory, Cooperativa de Trabajo ’19 de diciembre’, and spoke with Enrique Iriarte about a possible niche side business: manufacturing hotpresses for the recycling...
by efeinblatt | Jan 9, 2009 | argentina, cartoneros
Shortly after arriving in Buenos Aires in June 2007, we visited Carlos Perini at the Cooperativa de Trabajo Avellaneda Limitada (https://www.wasteforlife.org/?p=19). Technically, this is not a cartonero cooperative, but is instead a sort of low level middleman, buying...
by cbaillie | Sep 11, 2007 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives
Yesterday Maria Virginia welcomed us again into her home in Ituzaingo. I am not sure why it surprises me that life moves on so quickly for our Urban Recoverer friends. Virginia had mended her van and was about to sell all her current supplies of recyclables as she had...
by cbaillie | Aug 15, 2007 | argentina, cartoneros, cooperatives
Last week disappeared very quickly in a kaleidoscope of visits to all manner of extraordinary places outside the city. The first visit was to La Vallol where went to visit a ‘Barrios de Pie’ home building project. Except there were no building materials and so no work...
