The 6th edition of the Environmental Paddle had more than 100 participants and marked the 26th anniversary of the Paranaguá Container Terminal
Last Saturday, April 13, 996 kilos of waste were collected from the Itiberê River, in Paranaguá, during the 6th edition of the Environmental Paddle, an event promoted by TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, with the support of the Paranaguá City Hall, the environmental consulting company Acquaplan, and the Nova Esperança Collectors and Recyclers Association. Between Terminal employees and community volunteers, more than 100 people took part in the action using boats, canoes, kayaks and stand up paddles. During the paddle, adults and children were also able to enjoy other attractions such as popcorn and cotton candy stands, as well as a face-painting workshop.
“On the day that TCP turns 26, we celebrated the date by joining forces with the community to carry out the removal of waste from the Itiberê River, a Parnangu heritage site that plays an important role in the city’s socio-economic development and in the conservation of the entire ecosystem around it,” said the Terminal’s health, safety, security and environmental manager, Kayo Zaiats.
The event began at 8 a.m. on the dolphin pier, in front of the Mário Roque square, and lasted until midday on Saturday. At the end of the four-hour event, objects such as a baby carriage, a microwave door, a printer and a sun lounger had been found. Previous editions of Remada Ambiental have collected fridge doors, a car axle with the wheel still attached, bicycles, parts of a sofa and even televisions.
Of all the waste collected along the 10 kilometers of river covered by the volunteers, 596 kilos of recyclable material was sent to be separated and properly disposed of by the Nova Esperança Collectors and Recyclers Association, located on Valadares Island.
As well as raising environmental awareness, Zaiats also highlighted the impact on public health that the Environmental Paddle brings to the city. “The incorrect disposal of waste in rivers and streams contributes to the proliferation of the mosquito that transmits Dengue, which makes this action so necessary at a time like this.” According to the latest Dengue bulletin released by the state government, 163 new cases of the disease were confirmed in Paranaguá last week.
Since the first edition of the Environmental Paddle in 2018, almost 3 tons of waste have been removed from the Itiberê River. In the last edition alone, in 2023, the 150 volunteers who took part in the action collected 985 kilos of waste.
TCP currently has more than 30 socio-environmental actions underway, which aim to benefit the community of Paranaguá and the environment. One of these projects is Troca Solidária, which allows residents to exchange recyclable materials for basic food and personal hygiene products.
